# Archivists

US SOC code 25-4011. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/25-4011

Also called: Digital archivist, Records archivist, Archives specialist, Manuscripts archivist, University archivist.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **7,970** US archivists, with median pay of **$64,550** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2004, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2004/summer/nat-archives-70.html) of **80** from 1935, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for archivists: Transkribus AI handwritten text recognition, 2015 to 2022.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=25-4011&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **50%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)
- **0.76** estimated probability that the whole occupation could be computerised, over an unspecified number of years. Not a forecast of job losses. [Frey and Osborne, 2013](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)

### Since the 2013 prediction

In 2013, Frey and Osborne put this job's probability of computerisation at 0.76. BLS counted **5,560** of these jobs in May 2013 and **7,970** in May 2025 (+43%, a change derived by Future History).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Archivists employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1789
- Latest US employment: 7,970 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $64,550 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [7]
- Outlook: +3.4% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [27]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 51102)
  - Employment, 2020: 1,565. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [6]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 51102 Archivists, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$68,500. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [12]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 51102 Archivists, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 24 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1935 | 80 (estimate) | n/a | Est., National Archives [1] |
| 1958 | 3,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Encyclopedia.com [2] |
| 2004 | 5,190 | $36,470 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 5,410 | $37,420 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 5,460 | $40,730 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 5,420 | $43,110 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 5,330 | $45,020 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 4,900 | $46,470 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 5,030 | $45,200 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 5,460 | $46,750 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 5,640 | $47,340 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 5,560 | $49,110 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 5,360 | $49,120 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 5,460 | $50,250 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 5,760 | $50,500 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 6,080 | $51,760 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 6,370 | $52,240 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 6,560 | $53,950 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 6,550 | $56,760 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 6,120 | $60,050 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 7,230 | $58,640 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 7,150 | $59,910 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 7,050 | $61,570 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 7,970 | $64,550 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (88)

### Employment series

1. [National Archives -- "Creating the National Archives" (Prologue, Summer 2004)](https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2004/summer/nat-archives-70.html), National Archives
2. [Encyclopedia.com -- Archivists (professional history, citing late-1950s national survey of 1,300 archival agencies)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/archivists), Encyclopedia.com / Gale Encyclopedia of Careers
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
4. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

7. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
8. [BLS OEWS May 2006, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
9. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
10. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
11. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

13. [National Archives -- "Creating the National Archives" (Prologue, Summer 2004)](https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2004/summer/nat-archives-70.html), National Archives
14. [Margot Note Consulting -- "The Professionalization of Archivists" (2020)](https://www.margotnote.com/blog/2020/12/14/professionalization-of-archivists), Margot Note Consulting
15. [Society of American Archivists -- "History of Archives and the Archival Profession" (SAA curriculum module)](https://www2.archivists.org/gpas/curriculum/history-of-archives), Society of American Archivists
16. [National Archives -- "Milestones of the U.S. Archival Profession" (Federal Records Act 1950)](https://www.archives.gov/about/history/milestones.html), National Archives
17. [UCLA SRLF -- "A Brief History of Microfilm" (1839 to the present)](https://www.srlf.ucla.edu/exhibit/text/briefhistory.htm), UCLA Southern Regional Library Facility
18. [Society of American Archivists -- "An Introduction to SAA" (history of the organization and profession)](https://www2.archivists.org/about/introduction-to-saa), Society of American Archivists
19. [Wikipedia -- Encoded Archival Description (EAD history and predecessors)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encoded_Archival_Description), Wikipedia
20. [Encoded Archival Description (EAD) -- Society of American Archivists (EAD version 1.0, 1998)](https://www2.archivists.org/groups/technical-subcommittee-on-encoded-archival-standards-ts-eas/encoded-archival-description-ead), Society of American Archivists
21. [BitCurator Consortium -- Digital Forensics and Born-Digital Processing (background and history)](https://bitcuratorconsortium.org/), BitCurator Consortium
22. [Society of American Archivists -- Technology and Digital (SAA Solo Archivists Section, digital tools overview)](https://www2.archivists.org/groups/solo-archivists-section/technology-and-digital), Society of American Archivists
23. [Transkribus (EverybodyWiki) -- history, development timeline, user growth 2015-2020](https://en.everybodywiki.com/Transkribus_-_Handwriting_Text_Recognition), EverybodyWiki / READ COOP
24. [Springer -- "Understanding Transkribus in heritage contexts: a systematic review" (Archival Science, 2022)](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10502-022-09397-0?error=cookies_not_supported&code=cc911d0c-320a-4afa-9661-88518c2a647c), Springer / Archival Science
25. [SAA -- Artificial Intelligence and the Archives: 2024 Task Force Report](https://www2.archivists.org/groups/standards-committee/ai-task-force), Society of American Archivists
26. [OpenAI -- Whisper: Open-Source Speech Recognition Model (September 2022)](https://openai.com/index/whisper/), OpenAI

### Forecasts and exposure studies

27. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 25-4011 Archivists (2025: 10.3 thousand; 2035: 10.6 thousand; +3.4%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=25-4011&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
28. [Frey & Osborne (2013), "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?", Appendix (SOC 25-4011 Archivists: probability 0.76, rank 415 of 702)](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf), Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
29. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 25-4011.00, human-rated β 0.5)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

30. [Massachusetts Historical Society -- About MHS (history and founding, 1791)](https://www.masshist.org/about), Massachusetts Historical Society
31. [National Archives -- "Creating the National Archives" (Prologue, Summer 2004)](https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2004/summer/nat-archives-70.html), National Archives
32. [National Archives Pieces of History -- "The origins of the Society of American Archivists" (August 2018)](https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2018/08/13/the-origins-of-the-society-of-american-archivists/), National Archives
33. [National Archives -- "Milestones of the U.S. Archival Profession" (Federal Records Act 1950)](https://www.archives.gov/about/history/milestones.html), National Archives
34. [SAA -- Encoded Archival Description (EAD) overview (EAD v1.0 released 1998)](https://www2.archivists.org/groups/technical-subcommittee-on-encoded-archival-standards-ts-eas/encoded-archival-description-ead), Society of American Archivists
35. [Transkribus (EverybodyWiki) -- history and user growth (50,000 users milestone, February 2021)](https://en.everybodywiki.com/Transkribus_-_Handwriting_Text_Recognition), EverybodyWiki / READ COOP

### Predecessors & successors

36. [Margot Note Consulting -- "The Professionalization of Archivists" (historians as the source population for early archivists)](https://www.margotnote.com/blog/2020/12/14/professionalization-of-archivists), Margot Note Consulting
37. [Society of American Archivists -- "An Introduction to SAA" (library school as the primary entry path from the 1970s onward)](https://www2.archivists.org/about/introduction-to-saa), Society of American Archivists
38. [Encyclopedia.com -- Archivists (records management and archivists as adjacent and overlapping specializations)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/archivists), Encyclopedia.com / Gale Encyclopedia of Careers
39. [O\*NET 25-4011.00 -- Archivists career summary (related occupations: curators)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-4011.00), O\*NET / BLS

### Present-day analysis

- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers, 2024-25](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/curators-museum-technicians-and-conservators.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [O\*NET 30.3 — Archivists (25-4011.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-4011.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Society of American Archivists (SAA) — Core Values of Archivists 2020](https://www.archivists.org/statements/saa-core-values-statement-and-code-of-ethics), accessed 2026-05-24
- [SAA — Artificial Intelligence and the Archives: 2024 Task Force Report](https://www2.archivists.org/groups/standards-committee/ai-task-force), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Transkribus — AI-Powered Handwritten Text Recognition Platform](https://readcoop.eu/transkribus/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [FromThePage — Collaborative Transcription and AI Integration](https://fromthepage.com/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [OpenAI Whisper — Open-Source Speech Recognition Model](https://openai.com/index/whisper/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Adobe Acrobat — OCR: Edit and Search Scanned PDF Documents](https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/how-to/ocr-software-convert-pdf-to-text.html), accessed 2026-06-22

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.