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Archivist

Creative

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Creative Arts & MediaEducation

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
  2. 2Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
  3. 3Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
  4. 4Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.
  5. 5Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
  6. 6Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.
  7. 7Preserve records, documents, and objects, copying records to film, videotape, audiotape, disk, or computer formats as necessary.
  8. 8Research and record the origins and historical significance of archival materials.
  9. 9Locate new materials and direct their acquisition and display.
  10. 10Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials.
  11. 11Coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes.
  12. 12Specialize in an area of history or technology, researching topics or items relevant to collections to determine what should be retained or acquired.
  13. 13Select and edit documents for publication and display, applying knowledge of subject, literary expression, and presentation techniques.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Archivist
  • Registrar
  • Archivists
  • Archives Tech
  • Records Clerk
  • Film Archivist
  • Image Archivist
  • Records Manager
  • State Archivist
  • Document Scanner

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationMaster's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

History (Sejarah)Draws directly on History and Archeology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • History and Archeology87%

    History (Sejarah)

  • English Language79%

    English

  • Customer and Personal Service79%
  • Computers and Electronics76%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Administration and Management74%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Administrative71%

    Business

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentRarely

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Write grants and apply for funding to support archival work.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

23%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.08%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Teacher (DG9)

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

IPG (Teacher Training)

Become a school teacher: fully funded, with an allowance and a guaranteed posting. Apply separately through KPM after SPM.

~5 years

Related careers

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Archivists

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue