Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 9.0K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$70,770
Median hourly
$34
Average annual
$75,620
Typical range
$49,050–$108,060
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Anthropologists and Archeologists is $70,770 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $34 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $49,050 and $108,060 a year. There are roughly 9.0K people employed as anthropologists and archeologists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Anthropologists and Archeologists.
- Hourly
- $34.02
- Daily
- $272
- Weekly
- $1,361
- Bi-weekly
- $2,722
- Monthly
- $5,898
- Annual
- $70,770
$70,770 a year is around the 50th percentile for Anthropologists and Archeologistss. The median is $70,770.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Massachusetts$121,300
- 2Nebraska$94,520
- 3Connecticut$91,420
- 4Alaska$89,810
- 5Idaho$88,710
- 6Oregon$84,970
- 7Hawaii$84,530
- 8Virginia$80,230
- 9Pennsylvania$79,660
- 10Montana$79,420
- 11Wyoming$76,400
- 12Alabama$75,690
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$117,080
- 2Boise City, ID$104,250
- 3Anchorage, AK$94,210
- 4Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$87,400
- 5Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$85,160
- 6Urban Honolulu, HI$84,530
- 7Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$80,270
- 8Richmond, VA$80,230
- 9Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$79,780
- 10Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$79,530
- 11Jacksonville, FL$77,830
- 12San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$76,010
Related job titles
Employers advertise Anthropologists and Archeologists roles under these titles.
- American Indian Policy Specialist
- Anthropologist
- Applied Anthropologist
- Applied Cultural Anthropologist
- Archaeologist
- Archeologist
- Communication and Folklore Specialist
- Egyptologist
- Ethnoarchaeologist
- Field Archaeologist
- Forensic Anthropologist
- Historical Archaeologist
- Medical Anthropologist
- Physical Anthropologist
- Policy Specialist
- Political Anthropologist
Related occupations
What a Anthropologists and Archeologists does
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- 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.
- Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
- Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
- 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.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Anthropologists and Archeologists make?
- The median annual wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists is $70,770 ($34 per hour). Pay ranges from about $49,050 at the 10th percentile to $108,060 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Anthropologists and Archeologists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $75,620, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Anthropologists and Archeologistss the most?
- Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $121,300.
- Is Anthropologists and Archeologists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 9.0K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Anthropologists and Archeologists do?
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.; Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.; Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences..