Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists in the U.S. is $70,770 ($34.02 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $70,770
- Mean annual wage
- $75,620
- Median hourly wage
- $34.02
- Employment
- 8,990
8,990 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| 25th percentile | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Median (50th) | $70,770 | $34.02 |
| 75th percentile | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| 90th percentile | $108,060 | $51.95 |
Highest-paying states for anthropologists and archeologists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121,300 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $94,520 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $91,420 | — |
| Alaska | $89,810 | 130 |
| Idaho | $88,710 | 170 |
| Oregon | $84,970 | 240 |
| Hawaii | $84,530 | 210 |
| Virginia | $80,230 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,660 | 130 |
| Montana | $79,420 | 80 |
Lowest-paying states
- Kansas: $41,870 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $47,750 median annual wage
- Maryland: $54,160 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $54,340 median annual wage
- Georgia: $58,990 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Lead field training sites and train field staff, students, and volunteers in excavation methods.
- Consult site reports, existing artifacts, and topographic maps to identify archeological sites.
- Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
- Formulate general rules that describe and predict the development and behavior of cultures and social institutions.
- Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Master's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 4.8% |
| Associate's degree | 2.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 31.1% |
| Master's degree | 39.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 19.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.