Recruitment from abroad. 44 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from United States, France, India, ranking it 146th of 313. Home Office
Who does it
ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
115%hold a degree
61%women
Age of archivists
Age profile of archivists
n/p
n/p
26%!
36%!
27%!
n/p
16–2425–3435–4445–5455–6465+
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publishShow as table
16–24
Not published
25–34
Not published
35–44
26% (small sample)
45–54
36% (small sample)
55–64
27% (small sample)
65+
Not published
Highest qualification
Highest qualification held by archivists
Degree or equivalent115%
Higher education below degree–
Not published
A levels or equivalent–
Not published
GCSEs or equivalent–
Not published
Other qualifications–
Not published
Show as table
Degree or equivalent
115%
Higher education below degree
Not published
A levels or equivalent
Not published
GCSEs or equivalent
Not published
Other qualifications
Not published
Main employers: museum activities (45%), library and archive activities (16%), tertiary education (12%), general public administration activities (8.1%).
How to get in
Hold a degree
115%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
4
from level 6, including degree apprenticeships
Apprenticeships take
3 to 4½ years
typically
Routes in
Archivist
You can get into this job through:
University
You'll usually need a degree and postgraduate training to do this job. Most degree subjects are accepted for postgraduate study, but you may find it useful to take a degree like:
history
museum studies
information science
languages
law
After you complete your degree, you can do a postgraduate qualification in archives and records management recognised by the Archives & Records Association (ARA).
It's very important to get some work experience with record collections, which will help when you apply for a postgraduate course.
Contact organisations that hold archives to find work experience opportunities.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
Apprenticeship
You may be able to apply for a place on an Archivist and Records Manager Level 7 Apprenticeship.
This usually takes 3 years to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and study with an approved university.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Volunteering
Volunteering in archives or records will help when you apply for courses and jobs.
It's also a great way to find out if a career as an archivist is for you.
Registration and professional bodies
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Archives & Records Association and get access to industry news, professional development courses and networking events.
You can also join the Information and Records Management Society (IRMS).
The IRMS offers events, resources and the opportunity to apply for accreditation once you have several years' experience in the role.
Further information
You can find more details about careers and training in archives from the Archives & Records Association.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for archivist. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Conservator
You can get into this job through:
University
You can study a subject related to the type of conservation work you want to do.
Examples of conservation specialisms include:
fine art
architecture and heritage
archaeology
books and paper
textiles
human customs and cultures
You can also do postgraduate qualifications in conservation after completing a first degree.
The Institute of Conservation (ICON) has details of universities offering degree and postgraduate courses.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Apprenticeship
You could apply for a place on an apprenticeship. These include:
Cultural Heritage Conservator Level 7 Apprenticeship, which is equivalent to a postgraduate degree
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Other ways in
Work your way up
You may be able to move into certain types of conservation work if you've got relevant qualifications and experience. For example, building conservation may be suitable if you're a qualified stonemason, plasterer or roofer.
You could also work as a collections technician in a museum or gallery, supporting conservation staff and curators. With further training, you could become a conservator.
Volunteering
You'll also have an advantage when looking for courses and jobs if you have work experience with a museum collection or at an historic site.
Registration and professional bodies
Career tips
You could apply for The Institute of Conservation's internship programme. It can be a useful way to get practical experience after studying.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in collections conservation from The Institute of Conservation.
You can also learn about artwork restoration through The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers.
Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for conservator. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Employers will specify their own entry requirements, which may include a degree or the equivalent level of knowledge and thinking ability gained through…
examines, appraises and advises on the acquisition of exhibits, historic records, government papers and other material
classifies material and arranges for its safe keeping and preservation
maintains indexes, bibliographies and descriptive details of archive material and arranges for reproductions of items where necessary
examines objects to identify any damage and carries out necessary restoration whilst preserving original characteristics
makes sure that storage and display conditions protect objects from deterioration and damage
allows access to original material or material not on display for researchers
develops and promotes ideas for exhibitions and displays
negotiates loans of material for specialist displays
liaises with school and other groups or individuals, publicises exhibits and arranges special displays for general, specialised or educational interest
answers verbal or written enquiries and gives advice on exhibits or other material
Skills
communicate in English in a competent way
use ICT recources to solve work related tasks
coordinate operational activities
cope with challenging demands
interact with an audience
provide project information on exhibitions
respect cultural differences in the field of exhibition
assess object condition
document museum collection
ensure safety of exhibition
evaluate art quality
evaluate cultural venue visitor needs
manage budgets
monitor museum environment
Knowledge
museum databases
art collections
art history
art-historical values
collection management software
conservation techniques
cultural projects
Suits people who like
Organising and following procedures
Working with ideas and solving problems
Outlook
DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business, media and public service professionals, a group of 32 jobs that includes archivists.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 26%about 670,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20352.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.
This service 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. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.
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