U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Nat Archives and Records Administration / Archivist

Job-title file

Archivist

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

367 employees hold this title in Nat Archives and Records Administration. Median total compensation for the role is $117,962, above the department median of $76,003.

Employees: 367
Total payroll: $43.2M
Role median: $117,962
Agency median: $76,003
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$55,924$181,216+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 367 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Archivist pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Archivists — about 7,970 people — is $64,550. Nat Archives and Records Administration pays a median base salary of $117,962 for this role, 83% above that figure — above the 90th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Nat Archives and Records Administration sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$39,970

$50,680

$64,550

$83,020

$110,550

Nat Archives and Records Administration median · $117,962

The bar is the range of annual wages for Archivists across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Nat Archives and Records Administration’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Nat Archives and Records Administration is $117,962, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

Archivist is held in 13 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Nat Archives and Records Administration, the median of $117,962 ranks #4 of 13.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Securities and Exchange Commission

$272,100 · 1

Department of Veterans Affairs

$143,614 · 1

Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

$119,152 · 2

Department of Health and Human Services

$117,473 · 2

Department of State

$115,731 · 1

Department of Treasury

$113,047 · 1

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

$112,425 · 9

Smithsonian Institution

$104,832 · 40

Department of Transportation

$103,020 · 2

Department of Commerce

$99,200 · 1

Department of Agriculture

$94,583 · 4

Department of Interior

$82,764 · 33

Median total compensation for the Archivist role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Archivist beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 11 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $114,823 ranks #1 of 11. See Archivist across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$85,794 · 7

$81,897 · 19

$57,741 · 40

$55,109 · 14

$53,367 · 37

$52,137 · 5

$49,320 · 22

$44,588 · 10

Median total compensation for comparable Archivistroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Ruth Chan

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$137,299

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $137,299
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $137,299
Pay grade: 13
Work city: San Bruno
Work county: San Mateo
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $137,299
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,422
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063220081
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ruth Chan is a Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in San Bruno, California. 2024 total compensation came to $137,299. They are classified at grade 13.

Samuel Rushay

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$136,541

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $136,541
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,541
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Independence
Work county: Jackson
Work state: Missouri

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,541
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,079
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 293940095
Length of Service (Years): 30
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Nat Archives and Records Administration, Samuel Rushay serves as a Archivist based in Independence, Missouri. Their 2024 pay totaled $136,541. They are classified at grade 13.

Jacob Ersland

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$136,525

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $136,525
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,525
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Kansas City
Work county: Jackson
Work state: Missouri

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,525
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 294120095
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jacob Ersland holds the role of Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2024, their total compensation was $136,525. Their pay grade is 14.

Damani Davis

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 18
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Damani Davis holds the role of Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $133,692. Their pay grade is 13.

Martin Gedra

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: College Park
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240370033
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Martin Gedra is a Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in College Park, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $133,692. They are classified at grade 13.

Sylvia Naylor

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: College Park
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240370033
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Sylvia Naylor works as a Archivist for Nat Archives and Records Administration based in College Park, Maryland. Sylvia earned $133,692 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Nathaniel Patch

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: College Park
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240370033
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nathaniel Patch works as a Archivist for Nat Archives and Records Administration based in College Park, Maryland. Nathaniel earned $133,692 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Wanda Williams

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: College Park
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240370033
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Wanda Williams is a Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in College Park, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $133,692. They are classified at grade 13.

Patrick Connelly

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$132,760

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $132,760
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,760
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Philadelphia
Work county: Philadelphia
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,760
Basic Pay (before locality): $103,275
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 426540101
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Patrick Connelly works as a Archivist for Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Patrick earned $132,760 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Randolph Thompson

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$132,271

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $132,271
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,271
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Perris
Work county: Riverside
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,271
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062730065
Length of Service (Years): 27
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Randolph Thompson works as a Archivist for Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Perris, California. Randolph earned $132,271 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Diane Mercado

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$131,452

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $131,452
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,452
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Simi Valley
Work county: Ventura
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,452
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063641111
Length of Service (Years): 31
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Diane Mercado holds the role of Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Simi Valley, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $131,452. Their pay grade is 12.

Catherine Sewell

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$131,452

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $131,452
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,452
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Simi Valley
Work county: Ventura
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,452
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063641111
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Catherine Sewell is a Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Simi Valley, California. 2024 total compensation came to $131,452. They are classified at grade 12.

Kelly Barton

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$131,452

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $131,452
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,452
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Simi Valley
Work county: Ventura
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,452
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063641111
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Nat Archives and Records Administration, Kelly Barton serves as a Archivist based in Simi Valley, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $131,452. They are classified at grade 12.

Stephen Branch

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$131,452

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $131,452
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,452
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Simi Valley
Work county: Ventura
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,452
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063641111
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Nat Archives and Records Administration, Stephen Branch serves as a Archivist based in Simi Valley, California. Their 2024 pay totaled $131,452. They are classified at grade 12.

Lisa Magana

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$131,452

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $131,452
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,452
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Simi Valley
Work county: Ventura
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,452
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063641111
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lisa Magana is a Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Simi Valley, California. 2024 total compensation came to $131,452. They are classified at grade 12.

Jennifer Mandel

Archivist/Nat Archives and Records Administration

2024 total comp

$131,452

Sub-department: Nat Archives and Records Administration
Base pay: $131,452
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,452
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Simi Valley
Work county: Ventura
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,452
Basic Pay (before locality): $96,770
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 063641111
Length of Service (Years): 34
Occupation Code (OPM): 1420
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jennifer Mandel holds the role of Archivist at Nat Archives and Records Administration based in Simi Valley, California. In 2024, their total compensation was $131,452. Their pay grade is 12.