Life As an Anthropologist
Job Description & Duties Research, evaluate, and establish public policy concerning the origins of humans; their physical, social, linguistic, and cultural development; and their behavior, as well as the cultures, organizations, and institutions they have created.
Anthropologist Responsibilities
- Enhance the cultural sensitivity of elementary and secondary curricula and classroom interactions in collaboration with educators and teachers.
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Study archival collections of primary historical sources to help explain the origins and development of cultural patterns.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- Construct and test data collection methods.
- Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.
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Anthropologist Skills
These are the skills Anthropologists say are the most useful in their careers:
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Types of Anthropologist
- Applied Cultural Anthropologist
- Forensic Anthropologist
- Researcher
- Research Director
- Ethnologist
Anthropologist Employment Estimates
There were about 7,600 jobs for Anthropologist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 3.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 300 new jobs for Anthropologist by 2026. There will be an estimated 700 positions for Anthropologist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Anthropologist are Washington, Nebraska, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Anthropologist
The salary for Anthropologists ranges between about $36,840 and $97,170 a year.

Anthropologists who work in Massachusetts, Hawaii, or Idaho, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Anthropologists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $54,390 |
Arizona | $64,660 |
Arkansas | $58,240 |
California | $67,030 |
Colorado | $63,940 |
Florida | $54,130 |
Georgia | $67,550 |
Hawaii | $82,550 |
Idaho | $71,520 |
Illinois | $62,650 |
Kentucky | $59,740 |
Louisiana | $68,690 |
Maryland | $53,680 |
Massachusetts | $91,140 |
Missouri | $56,880 |
Montana | $62,690 |
Nebraska | $74,280 |
Nevada | $60,480 |
New Jersey | $64,950 |
New Mexico | $58,300 |
New York | $67,860 |
North Carolina | $63,690 |
North Dakota | $62,110 |
Ohio | $63,280 |
Oklahoma | $56,150 |
Oregon | $63,090 |
Pennsylvania | $70,770 |
South Carolina | $62,230 |
South Dakota | $52,340 |
Tennessee | $59,690 |
Texas | $71,590 |
Utah | $66,410 |
Virginia | $72,480 |
Washington | $74,300 |
West Virginia | $50,550 |
Wisconsin | $55,720 |
Wyoming | $67,400 |
What Tools do Anthropologists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Anthropologists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Data visualization software
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
How to Become an Anthropologist
What kind of Anthropologist requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Anthropologist?

Where do Anthropologists Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming an Anthropologist might also be interested in the following careers:
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors
- English Language and Literature Professors
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Agricultural Sciences Professors
- Environmental Science Professors
Those who work as an Anthropologist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Deror avi via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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