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Archivists

Archivists score 50 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #214 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 13 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 11 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

50/ 100
Elevated
Rank
#214of 923 jobs
US workers
7,970BLS, May 2025
Median pay
$64,550a year
In real AI use
3 of 13tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

  • AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (8%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 11 (85%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 1 (8%)
  • Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
  • Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Research and record the origins and historical significance of archival materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Preserve records, documents, and objects, copying records to film, videotape, audiotape, disk, or computer formats as necessary.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Locate new materials and direct their acquisition and display.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Specialize in an area of history or technology, researching topics or items relevant to collections to determine what should be retained or acquired.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Select and edit documents for publication and display, applying knowledge of subject, literary expression, and presentation techniques.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Educational Instruction and Library occupations close to this one.

Questions about archivists and AI

Will AI replace archivists?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Archivists score 50 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #214 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 12 of the job's 13 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 1 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which archivists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information".

Which archivists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 13 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as archivists, and what do they earn?

About 7,970 people in the US, with median pay of $64,550 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

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