Career comparison
Archivist vs. Librarian
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Librarians earn more at the median ($68,270 vs. $64,550), while archivists usually get to work faster (2 years after a bachelor’s of training). Archivists preserve historical records and help people find them. Librarians help people find information, discover books and build skills.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Archivist | Librarian | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,550 ($31.03/hr) | $68,270 ($32.82/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $39,970 – $110,550 | $43,660 – $103,990 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.4% (about as fast as average) | +2.6% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,100 | 12,600 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 2 years after a bachelor’s | Bachelor’s plus 1–2 year master’s |
| Key credential | Certified Archivist | MLS or MLIS degree |
| Work setting | Archivists work in archives, libraries, museums, government offices and corporations.. | Librarians work in public, school, academic and special libraries, mostly indoors at desks and with the public.. |
What each job does
Archivist
- Appraise records
- Arrange and describe collections
- Write finding aids
- Preserve materials
- Digitize collections
Librarian
- Help patrons find information
- Select and manage collections
- Teach research and digital skills
- Plan and run programs
- Manage databases and digital resources
How they’re similar
Both careers involve indoor work, working with information, and steady routines. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose archivist if…
- I love history
- I’m very organized
- I like quiet work
Choose librarian if…
- I love books and information
- I enjoy helping people learn
- I’m organized
Still torn? Take the Archivist fit quiz and the Librarian fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, archivist or librarian?
Librarians earn more at the median: $68,270 versus $64,550 for archivists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Archivists typically train faster (2 years after a bachelor’s) than librarians (Bachelor’s plus 1–2 year master’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects archivists to grow +3.4% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for librarians.