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In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another but, in general, archivists:
Archivists may participate in and contribute to professional associations, conferences and educational events. They may also write scholarly articles for professional journals, books, reports and white papers.
Archivists' working environments vary depending on the nature, type and size of the organization they work for, the type of records they work with and their responsibilities:
Temperature and humidity are controlled in the storage areas of most archives. Some archives have dust ventilation systems.
Archivists usually work standard office hours, alone or with other people. They are often part of interdisciplinary teams with information technology (IT) professionals, records managers, lawyers, donors and financial officers. When providing reference services, they may work with a wide variety of researchers and may be required to work some evenings and weekends. Travel may be required to where records are created or stored, to do initial appraisals or to discuss records transfer or gifting processes with donors or records creators.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in operating automated reference searches; and in planning the computerized management of archives and the management of electronic archives
Interest in co-ordinating information to develop cataloguing and retrieval systems and finding aids that allow access to archival materials, and to design programs for managing, disseminating and storing archives of all types such as documents, photographs, maps, manuscripts and audio-visual and other archival materials
Interest in instructing and assisting users with their searches
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Archivists need:
They should enjoy taking a methodical approach to their work, coordinating information and developing innovative solutions to problems.
Archivists need:
Since conservators are rarely on staff at archives, archivists also need basic conservation skills and knowledge. Audiovisual archivists require technical knowledge related to the processes and equipment involved with photographs, negatives, film, video and sound archives.
The preferred qualification for archivists is a master's degree in archival studies, although some archivists may have master's degrees in history, library science or political science with a concentration in archival studies. Candidates who have a bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (B.Sc.) degree may be considered if they also have recognized archives or records management training or extensive experience in those fields.
No master's programs in archival science are offered in Alberta. For information about history, library science and political science degree programs, see the Curator, Historian, Librarian and Political Scientist occupational profiles.
Outside of Alberta, these post-secondary schools offer 2-year master's degree programs in archival studies:
McGill University offers a 2-year Master's Degree in Library and Information Studies with a concentration in Archival Studies.
For current information about these programs, prospective students should refer to the appropriate university calendar or website.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
In Alberta, archivists are employed by:
Archivists also may work in records management in organizations such as oil companies and government departments, or have responsibilities related to freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation.
Employment prospects are best for archivists who are willing to work on a contract basis.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Archivists
2016 NOC: 5113
77.8% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $18.00 | $38.67 | $34.23 | $35.96 |
| Overall | $22.29 | $50.69 | $39.96 | $39.49 |
| Top | $25.00 | $50.69 | $41.65 | $41.29 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $73,389 |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $45,467 |
| Public Administration | $83,836 |
Archives Society of Alberta website: archivesalberta.org
Association of Canadian Archivists website: archivists.ca
Canadian Council of Archives website: archivescanada.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 01, 2021. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
