Salaries by Sector and discipline
In December 2019 the ARA launched a salary survey of the archives and records sector. This was the first salary survey on this scale in recent years and was promoted to ARA members and non-members across the UK and Republic of Ireland. 832 individuals responded, of which 77% were members of ARA. 91% were based in the UK. Thank you to all those who took part.
- Best paid sectors: United Kingdom
According to our survey 8% of respondents earn over £50,000. Of that number 63% hold an ARA-accredited qualification, 41% are Registered Members and 88% are employed full time, 9% part-time (earning the part-time equivalent) and 3% are self-employed. 58% of respondents earning over £50,000 were female.
The largest group of respondents earning £50,000 or more (25%) work in the private sector. The next largest group (20%) work for local authorities. 53% of respondents earning over £50,000 work solely in archives, with 20% working in both archives and records management. 14% of respondents work in Records Management only. 58% work in London, 14% in South East England and 10% Scotland.
- Best paid sectors: Republic of Ireland
32% of respondents declared salaries over €50,000. Of this number, 83% hold an ARA accredited post grad qualification, 29% are Registered Members and all are employed full time. 79% of those earning over €50,000 are female.
The largest group of respondents earning €50,000 or more (17%) work for universities. The next largest group (13%) work for local authorities, the private sector, religions organisations, charities, museums and libraries. The majority (63%) work in Archives. 17% work in Archives and Records Management.
Salaries in Archives, Archive Conservation and Records Management disciplines
- Archives
470 respondents in the UK work in Archives only. Local authorities are the largest employer, with 33% of respondents reporting being employed in this sector. The university sector was the next largest employer (15%), followed by the private sector (13%), museums (11%), religious organisations (8%), library and Art/Galleries (5%) and community archives (1%).
The most common salary range reported was £27,001 – £29,000 (15%), followed by £29,001 – £31,000 (10%) and £31,001 – £33,000 (9%). Highest reported salary was £65,001 – £70,000 (less than 1%). 4% of respondents earn less than £14,000 (employment type is part-time/fixed-term contract/self-employed).
67% of respondents from the ROI only work in archives. 12% work in universities, 12% in religious organisations, 8% in private sector, 7% in local authorities, charities and libraries. Other workplaces include various cultural and heritage organisations, as well as national public sector organisations.
The most common salary range reported (7%) was €43,001 – €45,000 and €27,001 – €29,000, followed by €50,001 – €53,000, €33,001 – €35,000, €31,001 – €33,000 and €29,001 – €31,000 – all at 5%. The highest reported salary range was €70,001 or more (4% of respondents) and the lowest was less than €14,000 (1 respondent).
- Archive Conservation
31 respondents work in Archive Conservation. Most common salary range was £25,001 – £27,000 (19%), followed by £31,001-£33,000 (13%) and £37,001 – £39,000 (10%). The highest reported salary was £43,001 – £45,000 (3%), the lowest was less than £14,000 (3%).
22 of respondents (71%) were ARA members. Just under half (45%) of hold an ARA accredited qualification and 36% are Registered Members of the ARA. The majority (54%) work for local authorities and 23% working within universities.
81% of respondents work full time with 16% working part-time. There was a variety of experiences reported with the largest group of respondents (9%) having worked in Archive Conservation for 9-11 years. The North West of England is the region where the largest group of respondents (26%) work.
There were no archive conservators based in the Republic of Ireland who responded to the survey.
- Archives, Archive Conservation and Records Management
In the UK, 3% of respondents work across all three disciplines. Of that number 26% work in local authorities, 21% in universities, 11% in private sector, religious organisations and museums, and 5% in the library sector. The most common salary reported is £37,001 – £40,000 (16%) followed by £45,001 – £47,000, £31,001 – £33,000 and £29,001 – £31,000, all at 10%. The highest salary reported was £70,000 or more (5%). The lowest was £23,001 – £25,000 (5%).
2 respondents from the ROI work across all three disciplines. One working in a national institution, the other within a religious organisation. The highest reported salary range is €33,001 – €35,000, the lowest €31,001 – €33,000.
Across the UK and ROI job titles included Project Archivists, Head of Collections Management, Deputy Head of Archives, Assistant Director and Archives and Heritage Manager.
- Archives and Records Management
106 of respondents in the UK work across these two disciplines. 16% work in local authorities, 15% in universities, 13% in the private sector, 11% in Museums, 8% in religious organisations and 5% in libraries and Art/Galleries. The most common salary reported is £37,001 – £40,000 (12%) followed by £27,001 – £29,000 (10%) and £40,001 – £43,000 (9%). £70,000 or more is the highest salary reported by 1% of respondents. 4% of respondents reported salaries less than £14,000.
Eight respondents from the ROI work in archives and records management. Three are employed within local authorities, three within religious organisations and two within other public sector organisations. The lowest salary reported is €29,001 – €31,000, the highest is €58,001 – €60,000.
Job titles reported in the UK and ROI include Archivist, Archives and Records Manager, Archivist & Information Governance Co-ordinator, Digital Asset Manager, Information Governance Manager and Project Archivist.
- Record Management & Information Governance
In the UK a total of 109 Respondents work in Record Management & Information Governance, with 59% working in Records Management only and 17% working only in information Governance.
The most common reported salary ranges in equal proportions (11%) were £41,001 – £43,000 and £27,001 – £29,000, followed by £31,001 – £33,000 and £29,001 – £31,000 (both at 8%) and £43,001 – £45,000 (7%). Highest reported salary range is £70,000+ (5%) and lowest is £18,001-£20,000 (4%).
50% of respondents were ARA members, of which 24% were Registered Members. 74% hold ARA accredited qualifications. 20% of respondents work in local authorities, 9% in the private sector 7% work in charities and in museums, 4% in libraries and in Art/Galleries and 2% work for religious organisations. Smaller percentages reported working in range of organisations based in national and local government, legal practices, trade unions and education.
In the ROI a total of four Respondents work in Record Management & Information Governance, with two working in Records Management only and two working only in information Governance. Those working in Records Management reported salaries €65,001 – €70,000 and €47,001 – €50,000. Both respondents in Information Governance reported a salary range of €40,001 – €43,000. Two worked for universities, one in the private sector and one in the civil service.
Across the UK and ROI a greater range of Job titles were given, including Records Manager & Data Protection Officer, Solution Architect, Information Compliance Specialist, Data Protection Officer, Information Manager, Information Access Officer, Business Support Officer.
Employment (UK and Ireland)
82% of respondents across the UK and the Republic of Ireland are employed full time, with 15% of that number employed on temporary/fixed term contracts. 15% are employed part-time, 2% are self-employed consultants and a total of 5 respondents volunteer.
27% of respondents work for local authorities, 19% for universities, 14% for charities, 13% in the private sector, 8% for museums, 6% for religious organisations and 5% for libraries. Other employers include community archives, Art/Galleries, Government departments and schools. Just two respondents reported being unemployed.
Academic Qualifications
The survey asked for information on academic and professional qualifications. The survey shows that across the UK and Republic of Ireland the sector is highly qualified, with 78% of respondents holding an ARA-accredited post graduate qualification and 6% of respondents holding a PhD.
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