Archivists pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,300 or more. The middle half of archivists in Madison earn between $57,180 and $78,790.
- $43K10th
- $57K25th
- $63KMedian
- $79K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,570 | $5,464 | $31.52 |
| Median | $63,040 | $5,253 | $30.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,180 | $4,765 | $27.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,790 | $6,566 | $37.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Archivists pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Archivists in Madison earn 11% more than the Wisconsin average ($59,180) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($70,640). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $64,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $65,570 | $63,040 | $42,950 | $84,300 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $59,180 | $59,400 | $37,440 | $84,300 | 220 |
| United States | $70,640 | $64,550 | $39,970 | $110,550 | 7,970 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Archivists salary after taxes in Madison
On the average salary of $65,570, a single filer in Madison takes home about $52,482 a year, or $4,373 a month and $2,019 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for archivists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $65,570 buys what about $67,399 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Archivists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 2 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$65,570
- Milwaukee$56,390
Highest-paying cities for archivists
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($102,880).
- Bridgeport, CT$102,880
- San Jose, CA$100,910
- Washington, DC$88,250
- Oxnard, CA$86,110
- Boston, MA$82,700
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Archivists salary in Madison: questions
How much do archivists make an hour in Madison?
$31.52 an hour on average, and $30.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level archivists salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the archivists take-home pay in Madison?
About $52,482 a year ($4,373 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,570.
Do archivists earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,640).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4011; area Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.75, this job is 5.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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