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Archivist

ANZSCO 224211

An Archivist assesses and preserves historical documents, maintaining cataloguing systems and ensuring proper retrieval and preservation.

  • This role has a low level of AI exposure. Core skills such as adaptability, social intelligence, and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).

How do I become a archivist

Get qualified to work as a archivist with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

In Australia, a full time Archivist generally earns $1,826 per week ($94,952 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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Employment numbers in this sector have remained stable in recent years. There are currently 960 people working as an Archivist in Australia and there were a similar number in this role five years ago. Archivists may find work across all regions of Australia, particularly in larger towns and cities.

Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights

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If you’re interested in a career as an Archivist, consider enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts (Librarianship and Corporate Information Management). This course will give you the skills to critically evaluate and organise records and business information. You’ll cover a range of topics exploring how information is created, organised, distributed, accessed and stored.

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Archivist careers

An Archivist examines and stores historical or culturally important documents. You’ll analyse pieces to determine their value and take steps to ensure they are correctly preserved. Archivists maintain systems for storing and cataloguing documents and may retrieve pieces when required. You might work with papers, photographs or other historical documents.

Archivists must have a strong knowledge of historical issues and excellent attention to detail. You'll need to be good at research and have good analytical skills. Archivists must be able to work as part of a team and manage their time well. You’ll need to be organised and able to follow correct procedures.