# Anthropologists and Archeologists

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropologists-and-archeologists
- SOC code: 19-3091.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $70,770 (10th percentile $49,050, 90th percentile $108,060)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.0%
- Openings a year: 800
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IAR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 50 |
| Investigative (I) | 97 |
| Artistic (A) | 54 |
| Social (S) | 45 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 37 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 95/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 88/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 87/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 86/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 85/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 84/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 84/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 84/100)
- Processing Information (importance 83/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 81/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Writing, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Learning Strategies, Instructing

## Knowledge

Sociology and Anthropology, English Language, History and Archeology, Foreign Language, Education and Training, Geography, Communications and Media, Philosophy and Theology, Computers and Electronics, Psychology

## Also called

American Indian Policy Specialist, Anthropologist, Applied Anthropologist, Applied Cultural Anthropologist, Archaeological Field Technician, Archaeological Technician (Archeological Tech), Archaeologist, Archeologist, Communication and Folklore Specialist, Cultural Resources Specialist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Anthropology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4502) (CIP 4502, 598 colleges)
- [Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5132) (CIP 5132, 352 colleges)
- [Archeology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4503) (CIP 4503, 86 colleges)
- [Classical and Ancient Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3022) (CIP 3022, 84 colleges)
- [Sociology and Anthropology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4513) (CIP 4513, 65 colleges)
- [Human Biology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3027) (CIP 3027, 42 colleges)
- Linguistics and Anthropology (CIP 3047, 4 colleges)
- Geoarcheaology (CIP 3042, 3 colleges)
- Geography and Anthropology (CIP 4515, 1 college)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Anthropology | not reported | $83,493 | $25,000 |
| [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-hunter-college-739) | Human Biology | $35,103 | $83,420 | $11,000 |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | Human Biology | $52,843 | $81,529 | $12,000 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Anthropology | not reported | $81,120 | not reported |
| [Emory University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Anthropology | not reported | $78,768 | $11,958 |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Anthropology | $36,515 | $71,018 | $15,000 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Anthropology | $50,996 | $70,846 | not reported |
| [University of Kansas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-kansas-2931) | Human Biology | $31,592 | $70,399 | $19,500 |

## Related careers

- [Historians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/historians): $76,750 median pay
- [Sociologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociologists): $106,030 median pay
- [Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropology-and-archeology-teachers-postsecondary): $99,650 median pay
- [Geographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geographers): $102,040 median pay
- [Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/area-ethnic-and-cultural-studies-teachers-postsecondary): $85,020 median pay
- [History Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/history-teachers-postsecondary): $83,820 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.