Job description template

Archivist Job Description Template

A copy-ready archivist job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How to use this template

Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows archivists earn a median of $64,550 ($31.03/hour); the middle 50% earn $50,680–$83,020.

Job title

Archivist

Job summary

[Company name] is seeking a dependable archivist to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will appraise records, arrange and describe collections and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.

Responsibilities

  • Appraise records
  • Arrange and describe collections
  • Write finding aids
  • Preserve materials
  • Digitize collections
  • Help researchers
  • Manage digital records
  • Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations

Required qualifications

  • Master's degree
  • Working knowledge of archival arrangement and description standards
  • Attention to detail and patience
  • [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]

Preferred qualifications

  • Certified Archivist
  • Digital Archives Specialist
  • MLIS with archives focus
  • Experience with archivesSpace

Skills

  • Preservation
  • Digital records management
  • Metadata
  • Research help
  • Curiosity
  • Organization

Work environment and schedule

Archivists work in archives, libraries, museums, government offices and corporations. Full-time daytime hours, sometimes with project-based roles.

Pay and benefits

$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]

Equal opportunity

[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Tips for a archivist job posting that attracts applicants

  • Use the title candidates search for. “Archivist” is the clearest; alternates include Digital Archivist, Records Archivist, Manuscript Curator.
  • Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
  • Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
  • Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of an archivist so applicants self-select accurately.
  • Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Archivist training: widens your applicant pool.

Next steps

Screen and interview with our Archivist hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.

Team pricing