### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Anthropologists and Archeologists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			anthropologists and archeologists imageAnthropologists and archeologists often do fieldwork.							
						Quick Facts:     Anthropologists and Archeologists2023     Median Pay
            						$63,800     per year
										$30.67     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    8,000Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    4% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    300What Anthropologists and Archeologists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Anthropologists and archeologists typically work in offices, in laboratories, or in the field. Fieldwork may require travel for extended periods.
            
                                                How to Become an Anthropologist or Archeologist
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, anthropologists and archeologists typically need at least a master’s degree in anthropology or archeology. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have experience doing fieldwork in their discipline.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists was $63,800 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of anthropologists and archeologists is projected to grow							 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 700 openings for anthropologists and archeologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for anthropologists and archeologists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of anthropologists and archeologists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about anthropologists and archeologists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Anthropologists and Archeologists Do 
            

			Anthropologists and archeologistsSome anthropologists and archeologists excavate artifacts.			
Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans. They study the culture and characteristics of living or past civilizations throughout the world.
Duties
Anthropologists and archeologists typically do the following:
Plan and oversee cultural research
Design and coordinate data collection appropriate for a particular region, specialty, or project
Collect information through methods such as observation and interviews
Document and manage records of information collected in the field
Analyze data, artifacts, and other sources of information to uncover patterns about human life, culture, and origins
Write reports and present research findings
Advise organizations on the cultural impact of policies, programs, and productsAnthropologists and archeologists use knowledge from the humanities and sciences to examine human behavior. Anthropologists focus on the ways of life, languages, and other characteristics of people throughout the world. Archaeologists research past cultures’ impacts on the customs, values, and habits of societies in the present.
Anthropologists and archaeologists apply their insights to businesses, schools, and other organizations in a variety of ways. For example, an anthropologist may collect and analyze data on a particular culture or social group for purposes of market research on product demand. An archeologist may assess potential construction sites to ensure compliance with federal regulations related to historic preservation.
The equipment used by anthropologists and archeologists varies by task and specialty. For example, they may use audio and video equipment to record research in the field; Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate potential excavation sites; trowels and sieves to collect soil, artifacts, and other objects; and scales and calipers to measure samples in the laboratory.
Anthropologists and archaeologists typically specialize in a particular field, geographic area, or time period. For example, biological and physical anthropologists study evolution and the changing nature of humans and primates. Cultural and social anthropologists study the societal consequences of human issues, such as poverty, over time. Linguistic anthropologists study how languages develop and what they teach us about history and culture.
 Work Environment
			Two anthropologists talk to man in a desert environment.Anthropologists often travel to interview the people they are studying.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Anthropologists and archeologists held about 8,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of anthropologists and archeologists were as follows:
        Research and development in the social sciences and humanities
                31%Federal government, excluding postal service
                21Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                18Engineering services
                7Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                6Archeologists work in a variety of settings, such as in museums, at historical sites, and in laboratories.
Fieldwork usually requires travel for extended periods, sometimes to remote areas that involve rugged living conditions and strenuous physical exertion. Anthropologists and archaeologists may work outdoors in all types of weather, including extreme heat or cold. Depending on the project, they also may need to learn a foreign language.
Anthropologists’ and archaeologists’ work may be stressful because they often face limited funding for their projects.
Work Schedules
Many anthropologists and archeologists work full time. When doing fieldwork, they may be required to work irregular schedules, including long hours, evenings, and weekends.
 How to Become an Anthropologist or Archeologist

			Anthropologists and archeologistsStudents assist in the surveying of proposed building sites for artifacts.			
To enter the occupation, anthropologists and archeologists typically need at least a master’s degree in anthropology or archeology. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have experience doing fieldwork in their discipline.
Education
Anthropologists and archeologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Some positions require a Ph.D.
Master’s degree programs usually take 2 years to complete. Programs in anthropology or archaeology often include field or laboratory research that may take place in the United States or abroad. Students may have the opportunity to attend archeological field schools, which teach them how to excavate archeological sites and how to record and interpret findings and data.
A Ph.D. takes additional years of study beyond a master’s degree and typically involves completing a dissertation.
Although most positions require a graduate degree, some anthropologists and archaeologists begin their careers with a bachelor’s degree and related experience. They may work as field or laboratory technicians or research assistants, increasing their responsibilities as they get additional education.
Other Experience
Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have experience in anthropology or archeology. Candidates gain this experience through field training or internships while still in school.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Anthropologists and archeologists need to understand scientific methods and data to assess artifacts and other findings from their research.
***Communication skills.*** Anthropologists and archeologists must be able to write reports or papers and to present their research findings to a variety of audiences.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Anthropologists and archeologists must be able to draw conclusions and answer questions based on observations, laboratory experiments, and other methods of research.
***Observational skills.***Anthropologists and archeologists study people, sites, and objects, paying particular attention to the surroundings and other sources relevant to their research.
***Physical stamina.***When conducting fieldwork, anthropologists and archeologists may need to hike**or walk several miles while carrying equipment to a research site.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Anthropologists and ArcheologistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Social scientists and related workers$89,440  Anthropologists and archeologists$63,800  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists was $63,800 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,770, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $102,150.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for anthropologists and archeologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $85,570Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
                64,330Engineering services
                64,220Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
                61,290Research and development in the social sciences and humanities
                58,960Many anthropologists and archeologists work full time. When doing fieldwork, they may be required to travel and to work irregular schedules, including long hours, evenings, and weekends.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Anthropologists and ArcheologistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Social scientists and related workers5%  Anthropologists and archeologists4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of anthropologists and archeologists is projected to grow				 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 700 openings for anthropologists and archeologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Corporations will continue to use anthropological research to gain a better understanding of consumer demand within specific cultures or social groups. Anthropologists also will be needed to analyze markets, allowing businesses to serve their clients better or to target new customers or demographic groups.
Archeologists will be needed to ensure that builders, museums, and other organizations comply with federal regulations pertaining to the preservation and handling of archeological and historical artifacts.
Because anthropological and archeological research may depend on research funding, federal budgetary decisions can affect the rate of employment growth in research.
			

                        Employment projections data for     anthropologists and archeologists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Anthropologists and archeologists**
			19-3091
			8,000
			8,300
			4
			300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Anthropologists and archeologists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of anthropologists and archeologists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers**
            Archivists and curators oversee institutions’ collections, such as of historical items or of artwork. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore items in those collections.
            See How to Become One
            $57,120**Economists**
            Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
            Master's degree
            $115,730**Geographers**
            Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.
            Bachelor's degree
            $90,880**Historians**
            Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.
            Master's degree
            $72,890**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**Psychologists**
            Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments.
            See How to Become One
            $92,740**Sociologists**
            Sociologists study society and social behavior.
            Master's degree
            $101,770**Survey Researchers**
            Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data.
            Master's degree
            $60,960**Environmental Scientists and Specialists**
            Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health.
            Bachelor's degree
            $78,980
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about careers in anthropology and archeology, visit
American Anthropological Association
For more information about careers in archeology, visit
Archaeological Institute of America
Society for American Archaeology
For more information about biological anthropologists, visit
American Association of Biological Anthropologists

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Anthropologists and Archeologists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Anthropologists and Archeologists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/anthropologists-and-archeologists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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