Archival Technician

Career Guide

An Archival Technician supports archivists by organizing, preserving, and providing access to historical and institutional records. The role is hands-on and detail-focused, balancing physical care of materials with basic digital workflows and service to researchers.

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Key Responsibilities

Process incoming collections by sorting, labeling, and rehousing materials
Create and update item lists and basic catalog records
Follow handling and preservation procedures for fragile items
Prepare materials for digitization and track digitization status
Scan documents and images using standard file naming rules
Perform basic quality checks for digital files and metadata
Support reference requests by retrieving and reshelving materials
Maintain storage areas with environmental and security guidelines
Track location and movement of materials to prevent loss
Assist with collection inventories and periodic audits
Use collection management systems to log updates and actions
Follow privacy, copyright, and access restrictions when serving users

Top Skills for Success

Attention to Detail

Organization

Time Management

Written Communication

Customer Service

Confidentiality

Collection Handling

Preservation Basics

Digitization

File Naming Standards

Metadata Entry

Collection Management Systems

Inventory Control

Records Management Basics

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Archival Assistant

Archives Specialist

Digitization Technician

Records Technician

Library Assistant

Museum Collections Assistant

Transition Opportunities

Archivist

Digital Archivist

Collections Manager

Records Manager

Digital Asset Manager

Metadata Specialist

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Metadata StandardsDigitization Quality ControlDigital Preservation BasicsCopyright BasicsPrivacy ComplianceDatabase Skills

Development SuggestionsBuild competence through short courses and supervised practice. Ask to own a small end-to-end workflow such as scanning, file naming, metadata entry, and quality checks for one collection so you can document measurable results.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUS$32,000 to US$42,000

Mid LevelUS$42,000 to US$55,000

Senior LevelUS$55,000 to US$70,000

Growth Trend

Stable demand, with increased hiring tied to digitization projects, records cleanups, and grant-funded preservation work.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

National Archives and Records AdministrationLibrary of CongressSmithsonian InstitutionState archives officesCity and county records departmentsUniversity libraries and special collectionsLarge public library systemsMuseum archives and research centersHospital and healthcare records departmentsCorporate archives programsRecords storage and information management firms

Industry Sectors

GovernmentHigher EducationLibrariesMuseumsHealthcareLegal ServicesFinancial ServicesMedia and PublishingTechnologyNonprofit Organizations

Recommended Next Steps

Learn one collection management system used in your target employers

Practice creating clean item lists and consistent metadata entries

Build a small portfolio that shows before and after organization work

Complete a short training in preservation handling and environmental controls

Strengthen scanning and file organization habits using a structured folder plan

Volunteer or intern with a local archive, museum, or special collections unit

Update your resume with quantified outcomes such as boxes processed and items scanned

Network with local archivist associations and attend one event or webinar