Creative & Education Philadelphia, PA Pop. 1,603,797

Archivist Salary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The median archivist salary in Philadelphia, PA is $59,813 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median and 6.3% above the Pennsylvania state average.

City Median
$59,813
vs State Avg
+$3,519
vs National
+$1,173
Cost of Living
102%

Archivist Pay in Philadelphia: What to Expect (2026)

Philadelphia offers a median archivist salary of $59,813, which is $3,519 above the Pennsylvania state average of $56,294. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Philadelphia pays above average for this role.

Philadelphia's cost of living is 102% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for archivists in Philadelphia spans from $36,720 at the 10th percentile to $95,880 at the 90th percentile — a $59,160 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $38,760, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $89,760. As a major metro area with a population of 1,603,797, Philadelphia typically offers more job opportunities and employer competition, which can drive salaries higher.

Archivist Salary in Philadelphia by Experience

In Philadelphia, an entry-level archivist earns around $38,760, while experienced professionals earn up to $89,760 per year. The local cost of living index is 102% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$38,760
+$760 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$61,200
+$1,200 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$89,760
+$1,760 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Philadelphia, PA

Percentile Philadelphia
10th Percentile $36,720
25th Percentile $46,920
Median (50th) $59,813
75th Percentile $77,520
90th Percentile $95,880

Archivist Salary in Other Pennsylvania Cities

Allentown, PA
$55,122
Pop. 126,092
Pittsburgh, PA
$54,535
Pop. 302,971
Reading, PA
$51,603
Pop. 95,112
Erie, PA
$49,258
Pop. 94,831

How to Become a Archivist in Philadelphia

Education

Most archivist positions require a master's degree. Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

Archival ScienceCatalogingDigital PreservationResearchDatabase ManagementMetadata

Job Outlook

Nationally, archivist employment is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Demand in Philadelphia may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Archivist Jobs in Philadelphia

Browse open archivist positions in Philadelphia, PA:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Philadelphia

How much does a Archivist make in Philadelphia, PA? ▼
The median archivist salary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is $59,813 per year, which is 2.0% above the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $36,720 (10th percentile) to $95,880 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Philadelphia? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $59,813, a archivist in Philadelphia earns approximately $29 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Philadelphia compare to the Pennsylvania state average for archivist pay? ▼
Philadelphia's median archivist salary of $59,813 is 6.3% above the Pennsylvania state average of $56,294. The local cost of living index is 102% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Philadelphia, PA? ▼
Philadelphia has a cost of living index of 102% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $59,813 in Philadelphia has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Philadelphia? ▼
Most archivist positions in Philadelphia require a master's degree. Key skills include Archival Science, Cataloging, Digital Preservation, Research. The job market is projected to grow 8% nationally over the next decade.