Anthropologists and Archeologists Career, Salary and Skills
Anthropologists and Archeologists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $70,770 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 8,990. Wage data is published for 101 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
19-3091.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$70,770
Hourly median
$34.02
Employment
8,990
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | 4.25 | 5.00 |
| Speaking | 4.25 | 4.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 4.75 |
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 5.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Instructing | 3.25 | 3.62 |
Typical tasks
- Formulate general rules that describe and predict the development and behavior of cultures and social institutions.
- Record the exact locations and conditions of artifacts uncovered in diggings or surveys, using drawings and photographs as necessary.
- Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
- 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.
- Study archival collections of primary historical sources to help explain the origins and development of cultural patterns.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe PageMaker
- Adobe Photoshop
- Age progression software
- Apple Final Cut Express
- Apple iMovie
- Applied Biosystems GeneMapper
- Archeological Sites Management Information System ASMIS
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Automated National Catalog System ANCS
- C++
Anthropologists and Archeologists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in CAMedian $72,240 · Employment 2,060
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in FLMedian $59,270 · Employment 620
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $65,240 · Employment 540
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in AZMedian $65,290 · Employment 500
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in TXMedian $67,700 · Employment 430
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $75,480 · Employment 350
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in VAMedian $80,230 · Employment 320
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in Phoenix, AZMedian $63,010 · Employment 270
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in WAMedian $74,790 · Employment 260
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $87,400 · Employment 250
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in COMedian $68,620 · Employment 250
- Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in ORMedian $84,970 · Employment 240
Related careers
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $79,350
- Social Work Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $77,570
- Survey ResearchersNational median $69,460
- Political ScientistsNational median $142,080
- English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $78,760
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $80,260
- Political Science Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $98,070
- Data ScientistsNational median $120,230
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.