Published: March 14, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

The Archives & Preservation pathway is one of the most popular career pathways at the SJSU iSchool and more than 300 students are members of the Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists. Yet how common are Archivist jobs, really? Let’s explore the current hiring landscape to learn more about the nuances of finding work in the Archives field.

The Job Landscape

The Society of American Archivists (SAA) job page averages between a dozen and twenty jobs at any given moment. Of course, not all jobs will be posted to this one page. However, when considering there are more than 65 archive-specific programs producing graduates each year there may be some competition between the number of candidates and the availability of positions. 

The good news is that based on recent trends identified in the iSchool’s 2024 MLIS Skills at Work: A Snapshot of Job Postings, between 2023 and 2024 there was a 5% increase in job listings for Archives, Preservation, and Special Collections. 

Tackling the Job Hunt

It’s important to remember that  many of the archive-related positions may not specifically have “Archivist” in the job title. Archivist responsibilities can be found in other areas of the information field like records management or digital preservation. These types of positions may not necessarily be posted on industry specific sites like the SAA job page, so it’s important to expand your search. 

Consider the geographic area where you are job seeking and do some research to see what kinds of archive work could be in your area. For example: 

• In Southern California there are lots of media companies 
• In DC there is a large concentration of government agencies 
• In the Bay Area there are many tech companies 
• In Minnesota there’s a large concentration of healthcare jobs 

Think about your job search keywords. Not every job listing will have the word “Archivist” or “Librarian” included. Here are some potential job titles:  

• Digital Asset Specialist 
• Digital Records Manager 
• Collections Manager 

SJSU has a strong reputation when it comes to helping alumni land positions in the information field. In its most recent alumni survey, for students who were not employed upon graduation, 77% were employed within six months. If you are seeking more personalized help in lending your dream Archivist role, or any other role within the information services space,  check out the Career Development Resources made available by SJSU or schedule an advising session to help you get started down the right path. 

Two More Things!

Don’t forget to keep up to date with job openings on Handshake.

Also, remember that internships can be an especially valuable part of your learning experience at the iSchool while also helping you when it comes time to look for jobs. Learn more about the iSchool’s internship program here, where you can check out the INFO 294 Student Handbook as well as the Internship Sites database.