Anthropologists and Archeologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Anthropologists and Archeologists fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Anthropologists and Archeologists earn a median salary of $64,910 per year, ranking in the top 39% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do anthropologists and archeologists earn?

The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists is $64,910. That puts anthropologists and archeologists at #316 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is anthropologists and archeologists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for anthropologists and archeologists is +3.7%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 8K positions in 2024 to 9K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do anthropologists and archeologists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working anthropologists and archeologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
2. 2.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.
3. 3.Lead field training sites and train field staff, students, and volunteers in excavation methods.
4. 4.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.
5. 5.Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
6. 6.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.
7. 7.Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.
8. 8.Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.

Top skills for anthropologists and archeologists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become anthropologists and archeologist?

The standard path into anthropologists and archeologists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

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Common questions parents ask about anthropologists and archeologists