Archivists Salary
The median pay for a archivists in Kentucky is $48,810/year ($23.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $54,095 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $49K get you in Kentucky?
About archivists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for archivists in Kentucky runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level archivists (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track archivists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a archivist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 33.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for archivists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new archivists typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,329/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is archivist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $49K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for archivists?
Kentucky pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do archivists make in Kentucky?
The median is $48,810 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,820, and experienced archivists can clear $67,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,275/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 33.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a archivists salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median archivists salary is worth about $54,095 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do archivists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.