Creative & Education Reading, PA Pop. 95,112

Archivist Salary in Reading, Pennsylvania

The median archivist salary in Reading, PA is $51,603 per year, which is 12% below the national median and 8.3% below the Pennsylvania state average.

City Median
$51,603
vs State Avg
$-4,691
vs National
$-7,037
Cost of Living
88%

Archivist Pay in Reading: What to Expect (2026)

Reading offers a median archivist salary of $51,603, which is $4,691 below the Pennsylvania state average of $56,294. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Reading pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Reading's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $51,603 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $58,640 in an average-cost city. This makes Reading an attractive option for archivists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for archivists in Reading spans from $31,680 at the 10th percentile to $82,720 at the 90th percentile — a $51,040 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $33,440, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $77,440. Reading is a smaller market (pop. 95,112), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Archivist Salary in Reading by Experience

In Reading, an entry-level archivist earns around $33,440, while experienced professionals earn up to $77,440 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$33,440
$-4,560 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$52,800
$-7,200 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$77,440
$-10,560 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Reading, PA

Percentile Reading
10th Percentile $31,680
25th Percentile $40,480
Median (50th) $51,603
75th Percentile $66,880
90th Percentile $82,720

Archivist Salary in Other Pennsylvania Cities

Philadelphia, PA
$59,813
Pop. 1,603,797
Allentown, PA
$55,122
Pop. 126,092
Pittsburgh, PA
$54,535
Pop. 302,971
Erie, PA
$49,258
Pop. 94,831

How to Become a Archivist in Reading

Education

Most archivist positions require a master's degree. Reading 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 Reading may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Archivist Jobs in Reading

Browse open archivist positions in Reading, PA:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Reading

How much does a Archivist make in Reading, PA? ▼
The median archivist salary in Reading, Pennsylvania is $51,603 per year, which is 12% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $31,680 (10th percentile) to $82,720 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Reading? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $51,603, a archivist in Reading earns approximately $25 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Reading compare to the Pennsylvania state average for archivist pay? ▼
Reading's median archivist salary of $51,603 is 8.3% below the Pennsylvania state average of $56,294. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Reading, PA? ▼
Reading has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $51,603 in Reading has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Reading? ▼
Most archivist positions in Reading 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.