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Museum Archivist Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

CENTRAL LIBRARY ARCHIVIST

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$82K - $146K/yr

Master's Degree in history, humanities, library science or a related field required; supplemented by three (3) years of archival experience in a library, museum, or related setting, including two (2) ...

CENTRAL LIBRARY ARCHIVIST

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$82K - $146K/yr

Master's Degree in history, humanities, library science or a related field required; supplemented by three (3) years of archival experience in a library, museum, or related setting, including two (2) ...

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Prior experience in art handling, framing production, gallery/museum preparation, or manufacturing ... Working knowledge of framing processes, materials, and basic conservation/archival practices is a ...

Museum Archivist information

See Decatur, GA salary details

$27.8K

$71.1K

$116.2K

How much do museum archivist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for museum archivist in Decatur, GA is $71,058.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,200.00 and $81,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a museum archivist do?

As a museum archivist, you help appraise and maintain the materials and documents associated with a specific collection. In this role, you may help restore historical items, research this history of specific objects, oversee other museum staff, and otherwise authenticate various materials. Museum archivists also help coordinate educational study programs, manage tours and workshops, and otherwise help keep the museum functioning. Archivists usually work for curators, who serve as directors and help manage the daily operations of each facility. Many museum archivists specialize in specific areas, such as botany, geography, or metallurgy, and what you specialize in can affect the number and type of archivist roles you qualify for.

What does a museum archivist do?

A Museum Archivist is responsible for preserving, organizing, and managing the historical records and documents of a museum. Their tasks include cataloging and maintaining archives, ensuring the proper storage and conservation of materials, and making these records accessible to researchers and the public. Archivists may also assist with exhibitions, digitalization projects, and educating staff or visitors about the museum's collections. Their work is essential for safeguarding the museum’s history and supporting research activities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a museum archivist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Museum Archivist, you need expertise in archival science, records management, and preservation techniques, usually supported by a degree in library science, history, or a related field. Familiarity with digital asset management systems, cataloging software, and archival standards such as DACS or EAD is typically required. Attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders are vital soft skills. These competencies ensure the accurate preservation, organization, and accessibility of valuable museum collections for research, education, and public engagement.

What are some common challenges faced by museum archivists when managing large or diverse collections?

Museum archivists often encounter challenges such as limited storage space, preservation of delicate or aging materials, and the need to balance accessibility with security. Managing large or diverse collections requires meticulous organization and the adoption of digital cataloging systems to ensure accurate tracking and retrieval. Additionally, archivists must stay updated on best practices for preservation and digitization to protect artifacts while making them available for research and exhibitions.

Are museum archivists in demand?

Museum archivists are in steady demand due to ongoing needs for preserving and managing historical collections. Employment opportunities often depend on the size of the institution, funding, and the archivist's skills in cataloging, digital tools, and conservation. Job growth is expected to be steady, with competition for positions in larger or specialized museums.

What do museum archivists do in museums?

Museum archivists organize, catalog, and preserve historical documents, photographs, and artifacts to ensure their long-term accessibility. They often use specialized software for digital records and may conduct research or assist visitors with archival materials.

What are popular job titles related to Museum Archivist jobs in Decatur, GA?

For Museum Archivist jobs in Decatur, GA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Museum Archivist jobs in Decatur, GA look for?

The top searched job categories for Museum Archivist jobs in Decatur, GA are:

What cities near Decatur, GA are hiring for Museum Archivist jobs?

Cities near Decatur, GA with the most Museum Archivist job openings:

Infographic showing various Museum Archivist job openings in Decatur, GA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,058 per year, or $34.2 per hour.

CENTRAL LIBRARY ARCHIVIST

Fulton County

Atlanta, GA • On-site

$82K - $146K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

UNCLASSIFIED VACANCY IN THE FULTON COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM BRANCH LOCATION: CENTRAL LIBRARY Minimum Qualifications: Master's Degree in history, humanities, library science or a related field required; supplemented by three (3) years of archival experience in a library, museum, or related setting, including two (2) years supervisory experience. Specific License or Certification Required: May be required to possess and maintain a valid Georgia Driver's License. Professional certification as an Archivist issued through the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) is required.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position. Veterans' Preference: Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans' preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only.

To see the full Fulton County Veterans' Preference Policy and Procedure, please click here Examination: The examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience, accomplished by analysis of the application. Application must document that the applicant possesses the minimum knowledge, skills, education and experience as listed to be rated as qualified. If selected, an official, accredited college transcript is required, at time of employment, for all degrees/course work used to qualify for this position.

All applications must be completed in full before they are submitted. Please review all applications for accuracy and make all corrections before submittal because errors can result in not meeting the minimum qualifications. Additional information will not be accepted after applications are received by the Personnel Department.

Purpose of Classification: The purpose of this classification is to perform duties related to administering archival services for the Library. Responsibilities include managing assigned staff and indexing, storing, and preserving archives, manuscripts, and other historically valuable records and documents. Essential Functions: The following duties are normal for this position.

The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be assigned. Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff: makes hiring or termination decisions/recommendations; develops and oversees employee work schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; compiles and reviews time cards; processes employee concerns and problems and counsels or disciplines as appropriate; assists with or completes employee performance appraisals; acts as a liaison between employees and management; and trains staff in operations, policies, and procedures.

Organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; prioritizes and schedules work activities in order to meet objectives; ensures that subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff to assist with complex/problem situations and provide technical expertise; and provides progress and activity reports to management. Manages collections: oversees the processing of permanent and historically valuable materials to include accessing, arranging, describing, preserving, classifying, and referencing of archival collections; supervises the development and utilization of finding aids, such as registered indexes and filing systems; and selects and prepares materials for exhibits and publications. Administers the cultivation of potential donors of personal papers, correspondences, diaries, historical documents, and artifacts to build a comprehensive archival collection to provide primary source materials for research: evaluates the relevance of manuscripts and other historical records; determines the proper storage and restoration of archival materials.

Administers a descriptive inventory of historical records and papers in accordance with professionally accepted standards and practices: evaluates the archived collection and individual subjects for appropriate formatting applications; and coordinates collaborative efforts in the use of technology to retrieve archival information. Develops and monitors assigned program budget: reviews previous yearly expenditures; determines budgetary needs for staffing, supplies, equipment, services, and/or capital improvements; collaborates with non-profit organizations to support and enhance generation of revenue; monitors expenditures for budget compliance; and approves program expenditures prior to submission for payment. Manages facilities and contents: monitors furniture and equipment to ensure availability and usefulness; monitors maintenance and other contracts applicable to Research Library; administers maintenance projects; reports issues to appropriate authorities; and coordinates/confers with Security personnel regarding Research Library needs.

Provides research assistance to scholars and the general public through the development of finding aids and other tools for retrieving information. Provides technical knowledge of the collection through research guides and one-on-one assistance. Provides written reports on various activities as required.

Additional Functions: Performs other related duties as assigned. For Applicants with Prior Military Service: We strongly encourage veterans, prior military and transitioning service members to apply. Many of the competencies and transferable skills developed through military service directly support success in this role, including: Leadership Under Pressure: Demonstrates steady, effective leadership when managing archival priorities during high-volume periods, tight deadlines, or unexpected collection needs.

Operational Planning & Execution: Plans, organizes, and executes archival projects with precision, ensuring procedures, timelines, and resource use are consistently followed. Adaptability & Rapid Problem-Solving: Quickly adjusts to changing project demands, collection conditions, or technology issues and resolves problems with practical, timely solutions. Team Cohesion & Communication: Works collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and community partners, communicating clearly to support shared archival and public service goals.

Safety & Risk Awareness: Identifies risks to people, materials, and equipment and follows established protocols to ensure safe handling, storage, and preservation of collections. Performance Aptitudes: Data Utilization:Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.

Human Interaction:Requires the ability to work with others to coordinate the more complex programs and more complex problems associated with the responsibilities of the job. Often represents the department and/or organization when dealing with others. Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization:Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude:Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information. Mathematical Aptitude:Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures. Functional Reasoning:Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs. It is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, genetics, disability or sexual orientation.