SOC 2472 Business, media and public service professionals

Archivists and curators Salary

Median salary £33,096 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £33,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For archivists and curators, £34,237 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -12% versus the national average.

About this role

Archivists and curators preserve, manage and provide access to historical documents, artefacts and cultural materials. Archivists focus on records and documents, while curators manage museum and gallery collections, developing exhibitions and interpretation.

Key responsibilities

Cataloguing, preserving and managing collections
Developing exhibitions and public interpretation
Providing access for researchers and the public
Managing storage and conservation conditions
Acquiring new items and developing collection strategies

Qualifications and entry routes

Archivists require a postgraduate qualification accredited by ARA (Archives and Records Association). Curators need a relevant subject degree plus museum studies MA. AMA (Associate of Museums Association) is the curatorial standard.

Career outlook

Competitive sector with limited positions. Digital archiving and collections digitisation are creating new skill demands.

Key skills

Collection management Conservation awareness Research Exhibition development Digital cataloguing

Common industries

National and local museums
Archives and record offices
Art galleries
Heritage organisations
University collections

Data coverage

SOC code 2472

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 9,000

Median Salary

£33,096

Mean Salary

£32,324

Jobs (000s)

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £23,906Median: £33,096

P10: --P25: £24kMedian: £33kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,906

0-2 years

Mid Level

£23,906

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +36.0%Real growth: -1.5%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 12.3%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£33,096

Full-time Only

£34,237

Full-time premium: +£1,141

Archivists and curators salary: common questions

How much do archivists and curators earn in the UK?

Archivists and curators earn a median of £34,237 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £34,237 a good salary in the UK?

For archivists and curators, £34,237 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -12% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for archivists and curators?

Entry-level archivists and curators typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £23,906, though this varies by employer and region.

Have archivists and curators salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median archivists and curators pay has risen from £26,097 to £34,237 — +31% in cash terms, or -5.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for archivists and curators?

Male archivists and curators earn a median £35,264 and female archivists and curators £30,942 — a gap of +12% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).