GS-1420 Archivist — Federal Salary & Workforce Data (2026)
Federal Archivist — GS-1420. The verified average salary for GS-1420 Archivists is $119,926/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Data from 469 non-redacted OPM records (April 2026).
Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) • Records included: 469 • Redaction rate: 18.7%
GS-1420 Archivist — Pay at a Glance
Salary and workforce snapshot from OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
The GS-1420 Archivist series showed 469 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $119,926/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.
Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: General Schedule (GS). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →
GS-1420 Employment Overview
| Metric | Value | Source & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Series Salary | $119,926 | OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 469 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits. |
| Non-redacted records (sample size) | 469 | OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy. |
| Redaction rate | 18.7% | OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%. |
| Pay plan(s) | General Schedule (GS) | Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government. |
| Typical grades | GS-9 to GS-14 | Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency. |
| Locality pay | 17.06% – 46.34% | Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate x base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above. |
| Pay cap (2026) | $197,200 | Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap. |
Top Agencies Employing GS-1420 Archivists
Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.
- →National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
- →Library of Congress (LOC)
- →Department of Defense (DoD)
- →Smithsonian Institution
Key Duties — GS-1420 Archivist
Representative duties for the 1420 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.
- →Appraisal, accessioning, and arrangement of federal records (NARA)
- →Preservation and conservation of historically significant documents
- →Reference services and access to archival collections
- →Electronic records management and digital preservation
- →Records scheduling and disposition authority development
About the GS-1420 Archivist Series
Federal Archivists preserve the documentary heritage of the U.S. government. NARA is by far the largest employer, managing over 10 billion pages of federal records, 44 million still photographs, and vast electronic records. The 18.7% redaction rate is the highest in this batch — primarily attributable to DoD archival positions. With 469 non-redacted records, this remains a solid representative sample above the 50-record threshold. The $119,926 average — slightly above the government-wide mean — reflects the master's degree requirement (MLS/MLIS with archival concentration or graduate-level archival studies) and the GS-11 to GS-13 grade range for mid-career archivists with specialized expertise.
Calculate Your Exact GS-1420 Salary
Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.
GS-1420 Archivist — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a GS-1420 Archivist?
The verified average salary for the GS-1420 Archivist series is $119,926 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (469 non-redacted records; 18.7% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 1420 series?
The GS-1420 Archivist series typically spans GS-9 to GS-14. Actual grade assignment depends on the position description, agency, and your qualifications. Use our GS Pay Calculator to look up the exact salary for any grade, step, and locality.
Which agencies employ GS-1420 Archivists?
The largest federal employers of GS-1420 Archivists include: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Library of Congress (LOC), Department of Defense (DoD), Smithsonian Institution. These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-1420 positions?
Federal civilian pay for GS positions = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). The GS table has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) and 10 steps per grade. Locality adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% in San Jose–San Francisco. Use our GS Pay Calculator for an instant result.
Do GS-1420 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-1420 positions qualify for the full federal benefits package: FERS pension (1–1.1% × High-3 Salary × Years of Service), TSP with up to 5% agency match, FEHB health insurance (government pays ~70% of premium), FEGLI life insurance, and FEDVIP dental/vision. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.
Other Federal Job Series Pay Pages
Salary data and workforce details for every GS occupational series in our database.
Data Accuracy Notice (YMYL): Salary figures are from the OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026). The annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.