Anthropologists and Archeologists
Study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings. May study the way of life, language, or physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. May engage in systematic recovery and examination of material evidence, such as tools or pottery remaining from past human cultures, in order to determine the history, customs, and living habits of earlier civilizations.
Also called: American Indian Policy Specialist · Applied Anthropologist · Applied Cultural Anthropologist · Archaeologist · Communication and Folklore Specialist · Forensic Anthropologist
Median pay (national)
$64,910
$44,510–$104,510 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
8,070
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.7%
~800 openings/yr
Typical entry
Master's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for anthropologists and archeologists shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $104,510 versus $44,510 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $64,910 leaves roughly 61% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.7% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 45 states with released data, Massachusetts pays the most for this role (median $106,540, +64% vs the national median), while Kansas sits lowest at $42,660 — a 150% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Writing, Speaking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags ESRI ArcGIS software, ESRI ArcGIS Survey 123, Geographic information system GIS systems, Microsoft Excel as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Science
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
- Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
- Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
- Identify culturally specific beliefs and practices affecting health status and access to services for distinct populations and communities, in collaboration with medical and public health officials.
- Apply traditional ecological knowledge and assessments of culturally distinctive land and resource management institutions to assist in the resolution of conflicts over habitat protection and resource enhancement.
- Lead field training sites and train field staff, students, and volunteers in excavation methods.
- Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.
Tools & technology
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcGIS Survey 123
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C++
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Windows
- SAS
- Structured query language SQL
Knowledge areas
- Sociology and Anthropology
- English Language
- History and Archeology
- Foreign Language
- Education and Training
- Geography
- Communications and Media
- Philosophy and Theology