Anthropologists and Archeologists: Job 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.
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The Daily Work of Anthropologists and Archeologists Do?
The core tasks performed by anthropologists and archeologists cover:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful anthropologists and archeologists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Anthropologists and Archeologists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- American Indian Policy Specialist
- Anthropologist
- Applied Anthropologist
- Applied Cultural Anthropologist
- Archaeological Field Technician
- Archaeological Technician (Archeological Tech)
- Archaeologist
- Archeologist
Employment and Demand
There are about 11,453 anthropologists and archeologists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +12.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Anthropologists and Archeologists
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $72,345 |
| Hourly median | $34.78 |
| 10th percentile | $50,662 |
| 25th percentile | $61,504 |
| 75th percentile | $83,186 |
| 90th percentile | $94,027 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $106,540 |
| Alaska | $92,870 |
| Nebraska | $92,750 |
| Hawaii | $88,390 |
| Missouri | $86,940 |
| Puerto Rico | $85,870 |
| Oregon | $79,790 |
| Washington | $77,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,180 |
| California | $74,100 |
| North Carolina | $73,840 |
| Idaho | $73,470 |
| Nevada | $72,820 |
| Montana | $72,550 |
| Utah | $72,550 |
| Arkansas | $72,550 |
| Kentucky | $70,140 |
| Alabama | $68,760 |
| Michigan | $68,160 |
| Virginia | $66,410 |
| New Mexico | $65,410 |
| Colorado | $64,910 |
| Maryland | $64,020 |
| South Carolina | $63,960 |
| Wyoming | $63,920 |
| Texas | $63,890 |
| Indiana | $62,860 |
| Minnesota | $62,220 |
| South Dakota | $61,960 |
| Florida | $61,900 |
| New Jersey | $60,630 |
| Arizona | $60,630 |
| Wisconsin | $59,950 |
| Oklahoma | $58,240 |
| Illinois | $57,770 |
| Iowa | $57,240 |
| New York | $52,810 |
| Tennessee | $51,460 |
| North Dakota | $49,000 |
| Georgia | $48,840 |
| Ohio | $47,310 |
| Connecticut | $45,820 |
| West Virginia | $45,650 |
| Louisiana | $44,180 |
| Kansas | $42,660 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for anthropologists and archeologists shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other U.S. Territories | $85,870 | 0.6% | 0.83 |
| Far Western US | $77,242 | 31.0% | 2.06 |
| Plains States | $74,722 | 2.4% | 0.83 |
| Rocky Mountains | $69,088 | 11.5% | 3.29 |
| Southeast | $62,583 | 17.7% | 1.05 |
| Southwest | $62,103 | 19.3% | 3.14 |
| New England | $59,832 | 1.9% | 0.91 |
| Middle Atlantic | $59,570 | 9.6% | 0.68 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $104,640 | 40 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $101,070 | 60 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $90,650 | 120 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | PR | $85,870 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $84,360 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $82,890 | 170 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $82,270 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $80,670 | 150 |
Which Industries Hire Anthropologists and Archeologists
The bulk of anthropologists and archeologists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5,160 | $60,630 |
| Educational Services | 320 | $58,500 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 200 | $48,370 |
Below are examples of industries where anthropologists and archeologists work:
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for anthropologists and archeologists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Data Scientists (Supplemental)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (Primary-Long)
- Survey Researchers (Supplemental)
- Sociologists (Primary-Short)
- Geographers (Primary-Short)
- Historians (Primary-Short)
- Political Scientists (Supplemental)
- Social Science Research Assistants (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Aspiring anthropologists and archeologists typically earn programs in:
Social Sciences
9 programs across 4 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
5 programs across 4 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists).
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