Day in the life
A Day in the Life of an Archivist
What archivists actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for an archivist?
Process a donated collection of letters. From there, the day usually includes appraise records, arrange and describe collections, and write finding aids. Full-time daytime hours, sometimes with project-based roles.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for an archivist working full time.
- Process a donated collection of letters.
- Rehouse photos in archival folders.
- Help a researcher in the reading room.
- Write a finding aid.
- Plan a digitization project.
- Migrate old digital files.
- Meet a potential donor.
Where archivists work
Archivists work in archives, libraries, museums, government offices and corporations.
Hours and schedule
Full-time daytime hours, sometimes with project-based roles.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Appraise records
- Arrange and describe collections
- Write finding aids
- Preserve materials
- Digitize collections
- Help researchers
- Manage digital records
Tools you’ll use every day
- ArchivesSpace
- Digital asset management systems
- Scanners
- Metadata standards
- Archival supplies
- Databases
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Work with history
- Quiet, focused work
- Help researchers
- Digital skills growing in value
What’s hard
- Competitive jobs
- Grant-funded positions
- Dust and heavy boxes
- Moderate pay
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love history
- I’m very organized
- I like quiet work
- I care about details
- I like digital tools
- I enjoy helping researchers
Not sure? Take the free Archivist fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Lift boxes safely
- Handle mold and pests carefully
- Use gloves for photos
- Protect sensitive records