How to Become an Anthropologist / Archeologist
Study human cultures past and present, from field digs to applied research inside companies and agencies. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $70,770 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$70,770/yr
Middle half
$59,400 to $89,670
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
800
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Field Methods
- Ethnography
- Research
- Writing
- Cultural Analysis
Helpful certifications
- Graduate degree + field school experience
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
17/100
Work-life balance
48/100
Stress level
45/100
Related careers
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950 median
- Political Scientist$142,080 median
- Sociologist$106,030 median
- Geographer$102,040 median
- Historian$76,750 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Anthropologist / Archeologist make?
The median pay for an Anthropologist / Archeologist is $70,770 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $59,400 and $89,670 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Anthropologist / Archeologist?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Anthropology, Archaeology, History, and Sociology.
Is Anthropologist / Archeologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 800 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Anthropologist / Archeologist use most?
Common skills for this role are Field Methods, Ethnography, Research, Writing, and Cultural Analysis.
Planning to become a Anthropologist / Archeologist?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).