Library Technicians vs Archivists
Median pay is about $20k higher for Archivists. The usual entry education is postsecondary cert for Library Technicians and master's for Archivists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Library Technicians | Archivists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $44,580 | $64,550, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $35,740 | $50,680, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $52,430 | $83,020, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | -6.4% Declining | +3.4% Growing, higher |
| Openings a year | 10,800 | 1,100 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary cert | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.6 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Very high |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 59th pct | 96th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Library Technicians
- Learning Strategies
Only Archivists
- Active Learning
Both lean on reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.