Anthropologists and Archeologists
Anthropologists and Archeologists (SOC 19-3091) earn a median $70,770 a year ($34.02 an hour) in the United States, with 8,990 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What anthropologists and archeologists do
Anthropologists and archeologists study human beings across time and place, including their origins, development, languages, physical characteristics, and ways of life. Anthropologists examine living cultures and social behavior, while archeologists recover and analyze the material remains of past people, such as tools and pottery. Typical tasks include collecting information and drawing conclusions through observation, interviews, and review of documents, planning and directing research to compare the economic, demographic, health, and social characteristics of groups, and writing and presenting findings for scholarly and general audiences. Applied anthropologists may identify culturally specific beliefs and practices that affect health status and access to services, or train others in ethnographic research methods. Some teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students. This field differs from historians, who work from written and recorded sources, from sociologists, who study modern social groups, and from geographers.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a doctoral degree.
Also called: Anthropologist, Archeologist, Applied Anthropologist, Archaeological Field Technician, Cultural Resources Specialist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.58 | $28.56 | $34.02 | $43.11 | $51.95 | $36.35 | 8,990 |
| Annual | $49,050 | $59,400 | $70,770 | $89,670 | $108,060 | $75,620 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where anthropologists and archeologists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $37.86 | $41.34 | $58.32 | $58.51 | $60.78 | $51.79 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
| Annual | $78,750 | $85,990 | $121,300 | $121,710 | $126,420 | $107,710 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $24.25 | $31.53 | $45.44 | $57.99 | $63.11 | $44.26 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $50,440 | $65,580 | $94,520 | $120,620 | $131,270 | $92,050 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $22.38 | $23.95 | $43.95 | $48.46 | $56.28 | $38.35 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $46,550 | $49,810 | $91,420 | $100,790 | $117,070 | $79,770 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $30.07 | $36.54 | $43.18 | $52.24 | $62.63 | $44.53 | 130 | 0.39 | 6.69 |
| Annual | $62,550 | $76,000 | $89,810 | $108,660 | $130,270 | $92,630 | ||||
| Idaho | Hourly | $30.35 | $31.92 | $42.65 | $50.12 | $50.12 | $40.98 | 170 | 0.20 | 3.40 |
| Annual | $63,130 | $66,390 | $88,710 | $104,250 | $104,250 | $85,240 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $26.51 | $30.11 | $34.73 | $42.28 | $50.37 | $37.13 | 2,060 | 0.11 | 1.96 |
| Annual | $55,140 | $62,620 | $72,240 | $87,940 | $104,770 | $77,230 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $21.47 | $25.09 | $28.49 | $39.93 | $45.76 | $32.68 | 620 | 0.06 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $44,660 | $52,190 | $59,270 | $83,060 | $95,180 | $67,980 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $23.80 | $29.04 | $31.39 | $39.66 | $50.51 | $35.57 | 500 | 0.16 | 2.69 |
| Annual | $49,500 | $60,400 | $65,290 | $82,490 | $105,060 | $73,980 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $27.57 | $29.37 | $32.55 | $39.46 | $52.53 | $36.69 | 430 | 0.03 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $57,340 | $61,080 | $67,700 | $82,070 | $109,270 | $76,310 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $22.80 | $29.47 | $38.57 | $49.98 | $51.74 | $39.13 | 320 | 0.08 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $47,420 | $61,300 | $80,230 | $103,960 | $107,620 | $81,400 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $31.31 | $41.34 | $56.29 | $58.51 | $61.20 | $50.43 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $65,130 | $85,990 | $117,080 | $121,710 | $127,300 | $104,900 | ||||
| Boise City, ID | Hourly | $31.92 | $39.10 | $50.12 | $50.12 | $50.12 | $45.11 | 90 | 0.23 | 3.92 |
| Annual | $66,390 | $81,330 | $104,250 | $104,250 | $104,250 | $93,820 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $30.07 | $35.57 | $45.30 | $53.07 | $62.63 | $45.57 | 60 | 0.36 | 6.26 |
| Annual | $62,550 | $73,990 | $94,210 | $110,390 | $130,270 | $94,780 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $23.38 | $26.04 | $42.02 | $57.00 | $65.70 | $43.22 | 250 | 0.08 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $48,640 | $54,160 | $87,400 | $118,560 | $136,660 | $89,890 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $29.49 | $31.99 | $40.94 | $55.09 | $61.88 | $44.07 | 130 | 0.10 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $61,340 | $66,540 | $85,160 | $114,590 | $128,700 | $91,670 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $25.47 | $28.51 | $31.37 | $38.73 | $46.25 | $34.69 | 540 | 0.09 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $52,970 | $59,290 | $65,240 | $80,570 | $96,190 | $72,160 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $30.11 | $30.11 | $36.29 | $44.05 | $48.91 | $38.84 | 350 | 0.15 | 2.57 |
| Annual | $62,620 | $62,620 | $75,480 | $91,620 | $101,740 | $80,790 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $23.80 | $29.04 | $30.29 | $38.14 | $49.61 | $34.44 | 270 | 0.12 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $49,500 | $60,400 | $63,010 | $79,320 | $103,180 | $71,640 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $23.38 | $26.04 | $42.02 | $57.00 | $65.70 | $43.22 | 250 | 0.08 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $48,640 | $54,160 | $87,400 | $118,560 | $136,660 | $89,890 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $26.51 | $27.28 | $31.81 | $38.81 | $49.03 | $35.50 | 230 | 0.15 | 2.60 |
| Annual | $55,140 | $56,750 | $66,160 | $80,720 | $101,970 | $73,840 | ||||
Top industries employing anthropologists and archeologists
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services employ 31.6% of anthropologists and archeologists nationally (2,840 jobs) at a median $64,860 a year ($31.19 an hour), followed by Scientific Research and Development Services (25.5%) and Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (19.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 2,840 | 31.6% | $64,860 | $31.19 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 2,290 | 25.5% | $64,070 | $30.81 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 1,770 | 19.7% | $91,560 | $44.02 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 630 | 7.0% | $66,580 | $32.01 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 380 | 4.2% | $54,300 | $26.11 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (8,990). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $61,910 for anthropologists and archeologists in May 2021 and $70,770 in May 2025, with employment of 6,650 and 8,990.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,910 | $29.76 | 6,650 |
| May 2022 | $63,940 | $30.74 | 7,350 |
| May 2023 | $63,800 | $30.67 | 7,720 |
| May 2024 | $64,910 | $31.21 | 8,070 |
| May 2025 | $70,770 | $34.02 | 8,990 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
45 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts profile | $58.32 | $121,300 | $78,750 | $126,420 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
| 2 | Nebraska profile | $45.44 | $94,520 | $50,440 | $131,270 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.66 |
| 3 | Connecticut profile | $43.95 | $91,420 | $46,550 | $117,070 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Alaska profile | $43.18 | $89,810 | $62,550 | $130,270 | 130 | 0.39 | 6.69 |
| 5 | Idaho profile | $42.65 | $88,710 | $63,130 | $104,250 | 170 | 0.20 | 3.40 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | $40.85 | $84,970 | $63,130 | $119,570 | 240 | 0.12 | 2.10 |
| 7 | Hawaii profile | $40.64 | $84,530 | $60,530 | $143,840 | 210 | 0.34 | 5.81 |
| 8 | Virginia profile | $38.57 | $80,230 | $47,420 | $107,620 | 320 | 0.08 | 1.34 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania profile | $38.30 | $79,660 | $49,750 | $99,560 | 130 | 0.02 | 0.37 |
| 10 | Montana profile | $38.18 | $79,420 | $60,900 | $110,190 | 80 | 0.15 | 2.57 |
| 11 | Wyoming profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $40,070 | $100,420 | 80 | 0.30 | 5.14 |
| 12 | Alabama profile | $36.39 | $75,690 | $40,960 | $82,880 | 170 | 0.08 | 1.43 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $35.96 | $74,790 | $54,560 | $116,210 | 260 | 0.07 | 1.25 |
| 14 | Utah profile | $35.54 | $73,920 | $53,380 | $103,380 | 120 | 0.07 | 1.21 |
| 15 | North Carolina profile | $35.16 | $73,130 | $52,370 | $109,300 | 200 | 0.04 | 0.69 |
| 16 | California profile | $34.73 | $72,240 | $55,140 | $104,770 | 2,060 | 0.11 | 1.96 |
| 17 | Kentucky profile | $34.73 | $72,230 | $41,650 | $106,330 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| 18 | Oklahoma profile | $34.49 | $71,740 | $46,070 | $97,470 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.87 |
| 19 | Colorado profile | $32.99 | $68,620 | $42,300 | $116,060 | 250 | 0.09 | 1.50 |
| 20 | New Mexico profile | $32.78 | $68,180 | $47,840 | $98,530 | 230 | 0.26 | 4.47 |
| 21 | Texas profile | $32.55 | $67,700 | $57,340 | $109,270 | 430 | 0.03 | 0.52 |
| 22 | Iowa profile | $32.34 | $67,270 | $47,770 | $94,290 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 23 | New York profile | $32.32 | $67,220 | $40,110 | $114,880 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| 24 | Missouri profile | $32.18 | $66,930 | $63,130 | $100,420 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.47 |
| 25 | New Jersey profile | $31.84 | $66,230 | $56,320 | $101,810 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| 26 | Minnesota profile | $31.69 | $65,920 | $48,390 | $102,910 | 140 | 0.05 | 0.83 |
| 27 | Arizona profile | $31.39 | $65,290 | $49,500 | $105,060 | 500 | 0.16 | 2.69 |
| 28 | Michigan profile | $31.11 | $64,700 | $60,270 | $97,470 | ** | ** | ** |
| 29 | Nevada profile | $30.96 | $64,390 | $55,320 | $99,640 | 230 | 0.15 | 2.61 |
| 30 | North Dakota profile | $30.69 | $63,830 | $46,730 | $87,310 | ** | ** | ** |
| 31 | Indiana profile | $30.64 | $63,730 | $46,180 | $94,490 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.37 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $51,310 | $100,420 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.36 |
| 33 | South Dakota profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $50,110 | $97,470 | 40 | 0.08 | 1.35 |
| 34 | Wisconsin profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $33,430 | $97,470 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| 35 | Arkansas profile | $29.89 | $62,160 | $49,430 | $100,420 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.76 |
| 36 | New Hampshire profile | $29.40 | $61,160 | $47,590 | $92,600 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.95 |
| 37 | Tennessee profile | $28.99 | $60,310 | $43,450 | $93,370 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.85 |
| 38 | Illinois profile | $28.63 | $59,560 | $50,280 | $90,660 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.39 |
| 39 | Florida profile | $28.49 | $59,270 | $44,660 | $95,180 | 620 | 0.06 | 1.07 |
| 40 | Ohio profile | $28.44 | $59,160 | $40,580 | $79,750 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.22 |
| 41 | Georgia profile | $28.36 | $58,990 | $45,750 | $99,030 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.52 |
| 42 | West Virginia profile | $26.13 | $54,340 | $37,020 | $106,330 | 50 | 0.07 | 1.21 |
| 43 | Maryland profile | $26.04 | $54,160 | $46,760 | $105,420 | 220 | 0.08 | 1.35 |
| 44 | Louisiana profile | $22.96 | $47,750 | $40,490 | $103,380 | 110 | 0.06 | 1.00 |
| 45 | Kansas profile | $20.13 | $41,870 | $36,400 | $63,130 | 60 | 0.05 | 0.78 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-3090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-3091 Anthropologists and Archeologists.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-3091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-3091.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.