Education:
50%
Master's Degree
29%
Doctoral Degree
Anthropologist or Archeologist
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
Master's degree
Salary
High:
$100,560.00
Average:
$68,310.00
Hourly
Average:
$32.84
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Research, survey, or assess sites of past societies and cultures in search of answers to specific research questions.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
Important Qualities
Analytical skills. Anthropologists and archeologists must possess knowledge of scientific methods and data, which are often used in their research.
Critical-thinking skills. Anthropologists and archeologists must be able to draw conclusions from observations, laboratory experiments, and other methods of research. They must be able to combine various sources of information to try to solve problems and to answer research questions.
Communication skills. Anthropologists and archeologists often have to write reports or papers in academic journals and present their research and findings to their peers and to general audiences. These activities require strong writing, speaking, and listening skills.
Physical stamina. Anthropologists and archeologists working in the field may need to hike or walk several miles while carrying equipment to a research site.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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88% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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87% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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87% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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82% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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81% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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80% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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79% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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77% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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75% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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70% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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68% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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65% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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63% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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62% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. | |
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61% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
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60% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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97% | Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service. | |
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67% | Artistic - Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
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81% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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75% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
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70% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
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70% | Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
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61% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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88% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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85% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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85% | Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |
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81% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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81% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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81% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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75% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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69% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |
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69% | Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. | |
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69% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). | |
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69% | Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. | |
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66% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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63% | Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). | |
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56% | Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. | |
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56% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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56% | Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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73% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. | |
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73% | Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. | |
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68% | Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |
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64% | Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. | |
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63% | Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. | |
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61% | Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. | |
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55% | Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. | |
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55% | Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. | |
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55% | Instructing - Teaching others how to do something. | |
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55% | Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. | |
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54% | Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Evaluate characteristics of archival or historical objects.
Plan social sciences research.
Direct scientific activities.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Record research or operational data.
Inspect condition of natural environments.
Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Collect biological specimens.
Mark materials or objects for identification.
Package materials or products.
Conduct research on social issues.
Collect archival data.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Advise others on matters of public policy.
Document events or evidence, using photographic or audiovisual equipment.
Design psychological or educational treatment procedures or programs.
Conduct anthropological or archaeological research.
Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Direct scientific activities.
Collaborate with technical specialists to resolve design or development problems.
Communicate with government agencies.
Clean objects.
Conduct scientific research of organizational behavior or processes.
Plan community programs or activities for the general public.
Develop theories or models of social phenomena.
Conduct historical research.
Apply knowledge or research findings to address environmental problems.
Advise others on educational matters.
Analyze forensic evidence to solve crimes.
Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines.
Write grant proposals.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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99% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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87% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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80% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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79% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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79% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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77% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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76% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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74% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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67% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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65% | Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? | |
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65% | Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos? | |
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60% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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59% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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58% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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56% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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55% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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54% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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75% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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93% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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93% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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90% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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90% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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88% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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88% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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85% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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82% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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78% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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78% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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76% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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75% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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73% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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71% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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71% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. | |
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66% | Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. | |
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65% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
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64% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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62% | Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. | |
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61% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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59% | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
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58% | Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. | |
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57% | Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. | |
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57% | Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. | |
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56% | Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. | |
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54% | Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. | |
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53% | Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
What Anthropologists and Archeologists Do
Some anthropologists and archeologists excavate artifacts.
Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans. They examine the cultures, languages, archeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world.
Duties
Anthropologists and archeologists typically do the following:
- Plan cultural research
- Customize data collection methods according to a particular region, specialty, or project
- Collect information from observations, interviews, and documents
- Record and manage records of observations taken in the field
- Analyze data, laboratory samples, and other sources of information to uncover patterns about human life, culture, and origins
- Prepare reports and present research findings
- Advise organizations on the cultural impact of policies, programs, and products
By drawing and building on knowledge from the humanities and the social, physical, and biological sciences, anthropologists and archeologists examine the ways of life, languages, archeological remains, and physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. They also examine the customs, values, and social patterns of different cultures.
Although the equipment used by anthropologists and archeologists varies by task and specialty, it often includes excavation and measurement tools, laboratory and recording equipment, statistical and database software, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Archeologists examine, recover, and preserve evidence of human activity from past cultures. They analyze human remains and artifacts, such as tools, pottery, cave paintings, and ruins of buildings. They connect their findings with information about past environments to learn about the history, customs, and living habits of people in earlier eras.
Archeologists also manage and protect archeological sites. Some work in national parks or at historical sites, providing site protection and educating the public. Others assess building sites to ensure that construction plans comply with federal regulations related to site preservation. Archeologists often specialize in a particular geographic area, period, or object of study, such as animal remains or underwater sites.
Anthropology is divided into three primary fields: biological or physical anthropology, cultural or social anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Biological and physical anthropologists study the changing nature of the biology of humans and closely related primates. Cultural anthropologists study the social and cultural consequences of various human-related issues, such as overpopulation, natural disasters, warfare, and poverty. Linguistic anthropology studies the history and development of languages.
A growing number of anthropologists perform market research for businesses, studying the demand for products by a particular culture or social group. Using their anthropological background and a variety of techniques—including interviews, surveys, and observations—they may collect data on how a product is used by specific demographic groups.
Many people with a Ph.D. in anthropology or archeology become professors or museum curators. For more information, see the profiles on postsecondary teachers, and archivists, curators, and museum technicians.
Work Environment
Anthropologists and archeologists held about 8,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of anthropologists and archeologists were as follows:
| Research and development in the social sciences and humanities | 31% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 21 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 18 |
| Engineering services | 7 |
| Self-employed workers | 2 |
The work of anthropologists varies according to the specific job. Although most anthropologists work in offices, some analyze samples in laboratories or work in the field.
Archeologists often work for cultural resource management (CRM) firms. These firms identify, assess, and preserve archeological sites and ensure that developers and builders comply with regulations regarding those sites. Archeologists also work in museums, at historical sites, and for government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.
Anthropologists and archeologists often do fieldwork, either in the United States or in foreign countries. Fieldwork may involve learning foreign languages, living in remote areas, and examining and excavating archeological sites. Fieldwork usually requires travel for extended periods—about 4 to 8 weeks per year. Those doing fieldwork often will have to return to the field for several years to complete their research.
During fieldwork, anthropologists and archeologists must live with the people they study to learn about their culture. The work can involve rugged living conditions and strenuous physical exertion. While in the field, anthropologists and archeologists often work many hours to meet research deadlines. They also may work with limited funding for their projects.
Work Schedules
Many anthropologists and archeologists work full time during regular business hours. When doing fieldwork, however, anthropologists and archeologists may be required to travel and to work many and irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.
Getting Started
How to Become an Anthropologist or Archeologist
Students assist in the surveying of proposed building sites for artifacts.
To enter the occupation, anthropologists and archeologists typically need at least a master’s degree in anthropology or archeology. Experience doing fieldwork in either discipline is also important. Those with a bachelor’s degree may find work as assistants or fieldworkers.
Education
Anthropologists and archeologists typically qualify for positions with a master’s degree in anthropology or archeology. Master’s degree programs usually take 2 years to complete and include field or laboratory research.
In graduate programs, anthropology and archeology students typically conduct field research in a local community or working abroad. Students also may attend archeological field schools, which teach them how to excavate historical and archeological sites and how to record and interpret their findings and data.
Although a master’s degree is sufficient for many positions, a Ph.D. may be needed for jobs that require leadership skills and advanced knowledge. Anthropologists and archeologists typically need a Ph.D. to work internationally in order to comply with the requirements of foreign governments. A Ph.D. takes additional years of study beyond a master’s degree. Also, Ph.D. students must complete a doctoral dissertation, which typically includes between 18 and 30 months of field research and knowledge of a foreign language.
Those with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology or archeology and experience gained through an internship or field school may work as field or laboratory technicians or research assistants.
Other Experience
Graduates of anthropology and archeology programs usually need experience in their respective fields and training in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Many students gain this experience through field training or internships with museums, historical societies, or nonprofit organizations while still in school.
Job Outlook
Employment of anthropologists and archeologists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 700 openings for anthropologists and archeologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Corporations will continue to use anthropological research to gain a better understanding of consumer demand within specific cultures or social groups. Anthropologists also will be needed to analyze markets, allowing businesses to serve their clients better or to target new customers or demographic groups.
Archeologists will be needed to ensure that builders, museums, and other organizations comply with federal regulations pertaining to the preservation and handling of archeological and historical artifacts.
Because anthropological and archeological research may depend on research funding, federal budgetary decisions can affect the rate of employment growth in research.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about careers in anthropology and archeology, visit
American Anthropological Association
For more information about careers in archeology, visit
Archaeological Institute of America
Society for American Archaeology
For more information about physical anthropologists, visit
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of anthropologists and archeologists.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers |
Archivists and curators oversee institutions’ collections, such as of historical items or of artwork. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore items in those collections. |
See How to Become One | $53,420 |
|
Economists |
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Master's degree | $113,940 |
|
Geographers |
Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants. |
Bachelor's degree | $88,900 |
|
Historians |
Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources. |
Master's degree | $64,540 |
|
Postsecondary Teachers |
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. |
See How to Become One | $80,840 |
|
Psychologists |
Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environments. |
See How to Become One | $85,330 |
|
Sociologists |
Sociologists study society and social behavior. |
Master's degree | $98,590 |
|
Survey Researchers |
Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data. |
Master's degree | $60,410 |
|
Environmental Scientists and Specialists |
Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. |
Bachelor's degree | $76,480 |