Prevailing Wage for Archivists
Prevailing wage for Archivists under SOC 25-4011 is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite is located. Whether the position is titled Accessioning Archivist, Digital Archivist, or Museum Archivist, the same DOL framework applies to any sponsored role.
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Entry-level filings cover archivists new to the occupation, typically with a relevant master's degree and limited independent project experience. The scope is closely supervised work such as basic processing, description, and reference assistance under established procedures.
Level 2 applies to qualified archivists who work independently on standard collections tasks with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Archivists, covering roles requiring two or more years of professional experience and familiarity with standard archival standards.
Experienced archivists who take on complex or specialized collections, exercise considerable judgment, and may lead project teams fall here. Employers typically file at Level 3 for roles requiring five or more years of progressive experience and specialized subject or format expertise.
Fully competent senior archivists who set institutional policy, lead major digital preservation programs, or manage archival departments are filed at Level 4. This level reflects independent authority over program direction and is common for principal or chief archivist titles.
Prevailing Wage for Archivists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Archivists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify your title maps to SOC 25-4011
Titles like Records Manager or Digital Archivist are O*NET-listed variants of SOC 25-4011, but some employers file Records Manager roles under a records-and-information management SOC instead, landing below the Archivists prevailing wage floor entirely.
Expect a wide gap between D.C. and southern metros
Federal agency and Smithsonian-affiliated archivist positions concentrate heavily in Washington, D.C., pushing that metro's prevailing wage well above the national median. New Orleans and Houston sit near the bottom, so the same Level 2 offer looks very different across those markets.
Confirm grants and stipends count toward base wage
Some museum and university archivist offers blend base salary with project grant stipends or professional development allowances. Only guaranteed, recurring cash wages count toward prevailing wage compliance; variable grant-funded supplements do not satisfy the DOL floor for a sponsored position.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who have sponsored Archivists
Federal agencies, research universities, and large cultural institutions account for most archivist sponsorships. Migrate Mate shows which of those employers have a documented history of sponsoring the role, so you can focus applications on organizations already familiar with the process.
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Find Jobs for ArchivistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 25-4011.00 alongside Archivists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Accessioning Archivist Prevailing Wage
Accessioning Archivist Prevailing Wage
Accessioning Archivist positions fall under SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Digital Archivist Prevailing Wage
Digital Archivist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Digital Archivist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Film Archivist Prevailing Wage
Film Archivist Prevailing Wage
Film Archivist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Museum Archivist Prevailing Wage
Museum Archivist Prevailing Wage
Museum Archivist positions fall under SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Records Manager Prevailing Wage
Records Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Records Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Reference Archivist Prevailing Wage
Reference Archivist Prevailing Wage
Reference Archivist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Registrar Prevailing Wage
Registrar Prevailing Wage
Registrar positions fall under SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
State Archivist Prevailing Wage
State Archivist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a State Archivist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
University Archivist Prevailing Wage
University Archivist Prevailing Wage
University Archivist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 25-4011.00 (Archivists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Archivists?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 25-4011, the OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from that survey. Employers must use the wage that corresponds to the experience level and worksite area listed on the Labor Condition Application.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level, closely supervised positions. Level 2 applies to workers performing standard duties independently, and it is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 reflects complex or specialized work with significant autonomy. Level 4 covers senior roles with policy or program leadership responsibility. The level on your LCA should match the actual duties and supervision described in the job offer, not just the job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Archivists role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so each metro area produces its own wage floor reflecting local labor market conditions. The LCA worksite rule requires employers to use the wage for the city where you will actually work, not company headquarters. Markets with dense federal and institutional employers, such as Washington, D.C., report significantly higher survey wages than metros where archival positions are sparse.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a Labor Condition Application at a wage below the applicable DOL prevailing wage floor. USCIS will reject an H-1B petition supported by a non-compliant LCA. For PERM-based green card cases, OFLC audits LCA wage data and a below-floor offer can result in denial or revocation. The employer must raise the offered wage to at least the prevailing wage before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Archivists position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, enter SOC code 25-4011 and the metropolitan area where the job is located, and select the appropriate experience level. That lookup returns the current DOL prevailing wage for that combination. Cross-check the wage level stated on your LCA against those results. If you want to see which employers have a history of sponsoring archivist roles, Migrate Mate filters sponsored listings by role and location so you can compare offers against active sponsoring employers.
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