Creative & Education Brookings, SD Pop. 24,194

Archivist Salary in Brookings, South Dakota

The median archivist salary in Brookings, SD is $50,430 per year, which is 14% below the national median and 2.3% below the South Dakota state average.

City Median
$50,430
vs State Avg
$-1,173
vs National
$-8,210
Cost of Living
86%

Archivist Pay in Brookings: What to Expect (2026)

Brookings offers a median archivist salary of $50,430, which is $1,173 below the South Dakota state average of $51,603. Compared to the national median of $58,640, Brookings pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Brookings's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $50,430 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $58,640 in an average-cost city. This makes Brookings an attractive option for archivists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for archivists in Brookings spans from $30,960 at the 10th percentile to $80,840 at the 90th percentile — a $49,880 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $32,680, while senior archivists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $75,680. Brookings is a smaller market (pop. 24,194), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Archivist Salary in Brookings by Experience

In Brookings, an entry-level archivist earns around $32,680, while experienced professionals earn up to $75,680 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$32,680
$-5,320 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$51,600
$-8,400 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$75,680
$-12,320 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Brookings, SD

Percentile Brookings
10th Percentile $30,960
25th Percentile $39,560
Median (50th) $50,430
75th Percentile $65,360
90th Percentile $80,840

Archivist Salary in Other South Dakota Cities

Sioux Falls, SD
$53,949
Pop. 192,517
Rapid City, SD
$52,776
Pop. 74,703
Aberdeen, SD
$49,258
Pop. 28,324
Mitchell, SD
$48,085
Pop. 15,660

How to Become a Archivist in Brookings

Education

Most archivist positions require a master's degree. Brookings and the surrounding South Dakota 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 Brookings may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Archivist Jobs in Brookings

Browse open archivist positions in Brookings, SD:

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Frequently Asked Questions: Archivist Salary in Brookings

How much does a Archivist make in Brookings, SD? ▼
The median archivist salary in Brookings, South Dakota is $50,430 per year, which is 14% below the national median of $58,640. Salaries range from $30,960 (10th percentile) to $80,840 (90th percentile).
How much does a Archivist make per hour in Brookings? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $50,430, a archivist in Brookings earns approximately $24 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Brookings compare to the South Dakota state average for archivist pay? ▼
Brookings's median archivist salary of $50,430 is 2.3% below the South Dakota state average of $51,603. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Brookings, SD? ▼
Brookings has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a archivist salary of $50,430 in Brookings has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a archivist in Brookings? ▼
Most archivist positions in Brookings 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.