Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Anthropologists and archeologists study people and cultures across time, supported by a national employment base of about 9,000 workers. This is a relatively small field, so each role can matter a great deal within an organization or research setting. The national median annual salary of $64,910 places this career in a solid earnings range, with even higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. Projected employment growth of 3.7% and about 1,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities for new entrants and experienced professionals. The career draws on a wide mix of skills, including writing and reading, speaking and listening, critical and analytical thinking, creativity and innovation, and science. Successful professionals also use project management, interpersonal abilities, adaptability, computers and information technology, and mathematics. A master’s degree is the typical education level, which reflects the profession’s emphasis on advanced knowledge and research-oriented skills. For people drawn to rigorous analysis of human societies, this field offers focused but meaningful career paths.
Anthropologists and archeologists earn a national median annual salary of $64,910, with meaningful variation by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts shows the highest median salary at $121,300, followed by Washington at $74,790 and California at $72,240. New York and Colorado are closer to the national median, at $67,220 and $68,620 respectively. At the metro level, the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area stands out with a median salary of $117,080, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria offers $87,400. Several California metros, including San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, provide median salaries in the mid-$70,000 range. These figures indicate that location choice can significantly affect earning potential and that some regions offer compensation well above the national median. Candidates considering this career can use these salary differences to weigh geographic preferences against income goals.
Anthropologists and archeologists have a national employment level of about 9,000, indicating a relatively small professional community. Projected employment growth of 3.7% suggests that overall job numbers are expected to increase over time. In addition, there are about 1,000 annual openings, which accounts for both new positions and turnover in existing roles. This combination of modest projected growth and consistent openings points to a labor market with ongoing, though limited, opportunities. The same 3.7% growth rate appears in several leading states and metro areas, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, and key metropolitan regions such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, New York-Newark-Jersey City, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont. For students and job seekers, these numbers underscore the importance of being deliberate about location and qualifications, since the field is not large but offers a continuous stream of roles for well-prepared candidates.
Location plays a major role in opportunities for anthropologists and archeologists. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, California leads with an opportunity score of 67.38, a median salary of $72,240, and employment of 2,060, indicating a comparatively large concentration of roles. Massachusetts has a high opportunity score of 65.87 and a notably high median salary of $121,300, though employment is smaller at 80. New York, Colorado, and Washington each combine moderate employment levels (120–260) with opportunity scores in the mid-50s to mid-60s and median salaries ranging from $67,220 to $74,790. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara and New York-Newark-Jersey City have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, with median salaries just above or below the national median. Boston-Cambridge-Newton offers one of the highest metro salaries at $117,080, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria provides $87,400. These differences allow job seekers to balance salary levels, job concentration, and opportunity scores when choosing where to live and work.
Anthropologists and archeologists typically need a master’s degree, reflecting the field’s emphasis on advanced study and research. This education level supports the development of key strengths such as writing and reading, speaking and listening, and critical and analytical thinking, which are central to interpreting complex information about people and cultures. The skill profile also highlights creativity and innovation, adaptability, and interpersonal abilities, suggesting that professionals must be comfortable working with diverse ideas and collaborators. Science, mathematics, and computers and information technology round out a strong technical foundation, while project management skills support planning and executing longer-term work. Together, these skills align with the expectations of graduate-level education, where students refine their ability to analyze data, synthesize findings, and communicate clearly. For prospective students, focusing education and training on these areas can build a competitive profile for entering and advancing in this career.
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