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Reference Archivist Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Wheaton College

Processing Archivist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$60K/yr

WHEATON ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS - PROCESSING ARCHIVIST Position Summary The Wheaton Library ... Provide Manuscripts Reading Room desk coverage on occasion, and support reference and research ...

Wheaton College

Processing Archivist

Chicago, IL

$60K/yr

WHEATON ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS - PROCESSING ARCHIVIST Position Summary The Wheaton Library ... Provide Manuscripts Reading Room desk coverage on occasion, and support reference and research ...

JOHNS BYRNE CO

Quality Assurance Clerk

Niles, IL · On-site

$20/hr

... shipment archiving. The role supports Production, Project Management, Warehouse, and Quality ... OKs, and other required production references. • Create and assemble Job Carriers by ...

New

Yusen Logistics

System Architect

Elk Grove Village, IL

$109K - $184K/yr

Design and maintain reference architectures for compute, storage, virtualization, container, and ... reclamation, archiving, and prevention of capacity issues. * Deploy, tune, monitor, and patch ...

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All JobsReference Archivist JobsReference Archivist Jobs in Chicago, IL

Reference Archivist information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$11.3K

$54.1K

How much do reference archivist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for reference archivist in Chicago, IL is $53,810.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,600.00 and $54,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What type of reference archivist makes the most money?

Senior or specialized reference archivists with advanced degrees, extensive experience, and certifications tend to earn the highest salaries. Archivists working in large institutions, government agencies, or with rare or valuable collections often have higher pay due to increased responsibilities and expertise.

Is there a high demand for reference archivists?

Reference archivists are in moderate demand as organizations seek to preserve and provide access to historical records and collections. Employment growth is steady, especially for those with strong research, cataloging, and digital skills, and positions are often found in libraries, museums, and government agencies.

What is a reference archivist?

A Reference Archivist is a professional who assists researchers, students, and the public in accessing and interpreting archival materials. They manage requests for information, guide users in finding relevant documents, and ensure that archival records are preserved while being accessible. Reference Archivists often work in libraries, museums, government agencies, or historical societies, and may also create finding aids and educational materials to help users understand collections. Their expertise helps bridge the gap between archival resources and those who need them.

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

To thrive as a Reference Archivist, you typically need a master's degree in library science or archival studies, along with strong research and organizational skills. Familiarity with archival databases, digital asset management systems, and metadata standards like EAD or MARC is essential. Exceptional communication, customer service, and problem-solving abilities help Reference Archivists assist diverse users and collaborate with colleagues. These competencies ensure efficient access to archival materials, preservation of historical records, and high-quality service to researchers and the public.

How does a reference archivist typically collaborate with researchers and other departments within an organization?

Reference Archivists work closely with researchers, historians, and internal departments to facilitate access to archival materials. They assist users in navigating finding aids, respond to reference queries, and provide guidance on handling and interpreting archival documents. Collaboration often involves coordinating with records managers, digital archivists, and conservation staff to ensure materials are accessible and preserved. This teamwork ensures that both internal stakeholders and external patrons can make the best use of archival collections.

What is the difference between Reference Archivist vs Archivist?

AspectReference ArchivistArchivist
Required CredentialsMaster's degree in Library Science or Archival Studies, certifications like CA or ALASimilar educational background, often with specialized archival certifications
Work EnvironmentPublic and academic libraries, archives, museumsArchives, historical societies, museums, government agencies
Job FocusAssisting users with research, managing reference collectionsPreserving, organizing, and maintaining archival collections
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for roles involving user assistance and reference servicesMore focused on preservation and collection management

The main difference is that a Reference Archivist primarily assists users with research and reference services, while an Archivist focuses on preserving and organizing collections. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work in archival environments, but their core responsibilities differ in focus.

What are popular job titles related to Reference Archivist jobs in Chicago, IL? For Reference Archivist jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Reference Archivist jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Reference Archivist jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Reference Archivist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Reference Archivist job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 75% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,810 per year, or $25.9 per hour.

Processing Archivist

Wheaton College

Chicago, IL • On-site

$60K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description


WHEATON ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS - PROCESSING ARCHIVIST
Position Summary
The Wheaton Library and Archives seeks a skilled, collaborative, innovative, and enthusiastic professional for a Processing Archivist position. This role plays a critical part in the Archives & Special Collections' mission to collect, preserve, and make accessible Wheaton College's institutional archives and special collections, ensuring long-term access, organization, and stewardship of materials and discoverability for diverse users. The Processing Archivist works collegially and collaboratively within the Archives & Special Collections to ensure excellence and integrity in its collections, services, and programs, and across the Library to promote its mission and values. In partnership with colleagues, the Processing Archivist will plan and manage large and small-scale processing projects, accession new materials, supervise student workers, coordinate with donors, and ensure timely access to archival materials accessioned by Wheaton's archival repositories. The Processing Archivist will receive all necessary training as well as ongoing mentoring and professional development support. The position is full time and will pay $55-60,000 annually.
Under the general supervision of the Head Archivist, the successful candidate will:
  • Arrange, rehouse, and preserve archival records, working across diverse physical and digital formats, in accordance with nationally accepted archival principles, standards, and best practices.
  • Describe archival collections according to nationally accepted archival standards, generating EAD-encoded finding aids in the repository's collections management database, ArchivesSpace, and creating records in MARC format to upload to the Library's online public access catalog.
  • Appraise and accession new collection materials, exercising professional judgement to ascertain the ongoing research value of new collections while faithfully and independently representing administrative, legal, and descriptive information about new materials in ArchivesSpace.
  • Contribute to management and control activities, including collections assessment, stacks and equipment maintenance, space planning, and archival supplies monitoring.
  • Serve on cross-department initiatives, including digital exhibits and preservation activities, contributing to preservation and reformatting activities.
  • Participate in unit-wide meetings, decision-making, and planning activities.
  • Supervise, train, and manage archival student workers.
  • Provide Manuscripts Reading Room desk coverage on occasion, and support reference and research services as needed.

This job description is intended to represent key areas of responsibilities; specific assignments may vary from time to time, and other duties may be assigned.
Professional Required Qualifications
  • Master's degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited program in hand or in progress, or equivalent combination of advanced degree in a relevant discipline (Museum Studies, Public History, History) and related experience.
  • 1-3 years of experience in a library, archives, or museum setting, working with diverse collections and users.
  • Ability to build productive working relationships and collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners.
  • Capacity to work autonomously, exercise professional judgement, and make independent decisions within the scope of assignments.
  • Ability to prioritize work, manage multiple tasks, and complete projects in a timely manner.
  • Experience using Microsoft Office suite and comfortable learning new systems and platforms, and applications.
  • Superior written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Committed to diversity, growth, and dynamic environments; desire to grow in professional role and develop further expertise.

Professional Preferred Qualifications
  • Demonstrated experience appraising, arranging, describing, and preserving format-diverse archival collections of varying size and complexity in a professional setting.
  • Understanding of tools, platforms, and software used to manage, preserve, and provide access to physical and digital archival records, such as ArchivesSpace and Preservica.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of, or recent coursework in metadata standards, particularly Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), Encoded Archival Description (EAD), AACR2, RDA, and LCSH.
  • Subject familiarity with one or more of the collecting foci of the Archives & Special Collections is preferred, particularly the history of evangelical Christianity in the United States.

Faith Requirements
  • Affirmation of the Wheaton College Statement of Faith as a faithful expression of one's own theological convictions
  • Affirmation of the biblical standards for Christian character and God-honoring behavior described throughout the Wheaton College Community Covenant, and promise to adhere to them in personal practice
  • Support of the Wheaton College Christ-Centered Diversity Commitment, the Gender Equity Vision Statement, and the College's Convictions on Human Sexuality. These commitments can be found on the Wheaton College website.

Physical Requirements - The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, climb ladders, work with dusty materials, bend or lift up to 40 pounds.
FLSA Status - Exempt
Updated: June 2026

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