Archive manager
Also known as: archivist, archive and records manager, archivist and records manager, archive services manager, cultural records manager, archive administrator
About this occupation
Archive managers ensure the care and preservation of a cultural institution and the archives within. Archive managers, along with curators, and conservators, play a very important role in the care of the institution and all the collections within.
Essential skills and knowledge
- cope with challenging demands
- supervise work
- project management
- establish high standards of collections care
- execute administration
- respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition
- manage budgets
- supervise artefact movement
- conservation techniques
- create collection conservation plan
- document museum collection
- advise on loans of art work for exhibitions
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (O*NET 13-1011.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
- Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
- Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
- Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
- Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
- Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Enterprising, Social, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Persuasion, Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness
US median pay: US$82,890 a year (2025), 12,620 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.9)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.8)
- Fine Art or Music or Drama and TheatreO*NET: Fine ArtsVery important (3.7)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaVery important (3.7)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
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Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
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- Public Relations Specialists
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Writers and Authors
- Marketing Managers
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Sales Managers
- Public Relations Managers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.