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Archaeologist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$70,770median pay per year, or $34.02 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $49,050lowest 10% earn less
  2. $59,40025th percentile
  3. $70,770median
  4. $89,67075th percentile
  5. $108,060top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Anthropologists and archeologists had a median pay of $70,770 a year in May 2025[1]. A master's degree is the typical way in, and jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6%[3]
Openings per year
800[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[2]

How much do archaeologists make?

The official BLS category is Anthropologists and Archeologists, so the figures below cover both. In May 2025, the median pay for the group was $70,770 a year, or $34.02 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5]. The average pay for this group was $75,620 a year, or $36.35 an hour[7].

Pay varies a lot within the field. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $49,050 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $59,400[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $89,670, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $108,060[4]. BLS does not publish a starting salary. It publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries in the pay range[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $49,050 $23.58
25th percentile[4][9] $59,400 $28.56
Median[1] $70,770 $34.02
75th percentile[4][9] $89,670 $43.11
90th percentile[4][9] $108,060 $51.95

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 45 states with published data, Massachusetts had the highest median pay at $121,300, followed by Nebraska at $94,520 and Connecticut at $91,420[11]. Kansas had the lowest listed median at $41,870[11]. Many state figures rest on small job counts. Massachusetts, for example, had 80 jobs[11].

California had the most jobs at 2,060, followed by Florida with 620, Arizona with 500, Texas with 430 and Virginia with 320[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[13], the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area had the highest median at $87,400. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro came next at $85,160, then Urban Honolulu at $84,530[13]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim with 540, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont with 350 and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler with 270[14].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[11]$121,30080
Nebraska$94,52040
Connecticut$91,420n/a
Alaska$89,810130
Idaho$88,710170
Oregon$84,970240
Hawaii$84,530210
Virginia$80,230320
Pennsylvania$79,660130
Montana$79,42080
Wyoming$76,40080
Alabama$75,690170
Washington$74,790260
Utah$73,920120
North Carolina$73,130200
California$72,2402,060
Kentucky$72,23070
Oklahoma$71,74090
Colorado$68,620250
New Mexico$68,180230
Texas$67,700430
Iowa$67,27040
New York$67,220120
Missouri$66,93080
New Jersey$66,230140
Minnesota$65,920140
Arizona$65,290500
Michigan$64,700n/a
Nevada$64,390230
North Dakota$63,830n/a
Indiana$63,73070
South Carolina$63,13050
South Dakota$63,13040
Wisconsin$63,13040
Arkansas$62,16060
New Hampshire$61,16040
Tennessee$60,310160
Illinois$59,560140
Florida$59,270620
Ohio$59,16070
Georgia$58,990150
West Virginia$54,34050
Maryland$54,160220
Louisiana$47,750110
Kansas$41,87060

How to become an archaeologist

The path below follows BLS data on anthropologists and archeologists as a group.

A bachelor's degree can also be a starting point. Some people begin with a bachelor's degree and related experience, working as field or laboratory technicians or research assistants[20]. BLS lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical for entry[2].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 40% said a doctoral degree is required, 30% said a master's degree and 20% said a bachelor's degree[21]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

What archaeologists and anthropologists do

O*NET describes the work as studying where people came from, how they developed and how they behave[22]. Some workers recover and examine tools or pottery from past cultures to learn how earlier peoples lived[22]. Common tasks include:

Other job titles reported by workers include applied anthropologist, forensic anthropologist and historical archaeologist[24]. BLS lists analytical, communication, critical-thinking and observational skills as important, along with physical stamina for fieldwork[25][26][27][28][29].

Where they work

Archeologists work in settings such as museums, historical sites and laboratories[30]. The largest employer group in 2025 was management, scientific, and technical consulting services, at 28% of jobs[31]. About 8.9% of workers were self-employed in 2025[32].

Fieldwork often means extended travel, sometimes to remote places with rugged living conditions and strenuous physical work[33]. Workers may be outdoors in all kinds of weather, and some projects call for learning a foreign language[33]. Limited project funding can make the work stressful[34]. Many people work full time. During fieldwork the schedule may be irregular, with long hours, evenings and weekends[35].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035[3]. The count goes from about 10,200 to 10,800 jobs, which is a gain of about 600 jobs, and the counts include self-employed workers[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[36].

BLS projects about 800 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[37].

The OEWS count of about 8,990 jobs[38] is lower than the projections count of about 10,200[3]. The two measures count workers differently. OEWS covers wage and salary jobs and leaves out the self-employed[38]. The projections include them[3].

Is it a good fit?

The facts point to a field with about 8,990 wage and salary jobs and pay above the all-occupations median[38][1][5]. Entry usually takes a master's degree[2]. Master's programs usually take 2 years[16]. Some positions want a Ph.D.[18]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than the all-occupations rate, with about 800 openings a year[3][36][6]. Fieldwork can bring travel, hard conditions and irregular hours, and limited funding can add stress[33][34][35]. The work may suit people who like research, writing and time in the field and who are ready for graduate study.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[39].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an archaeologist make a year?
The median pay for anthropologists and archeologists was $70,770 a year in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $59,400 and $89,670[4].
How much does an archaeologist make an hour?
The median was $34.02 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $23.58 and the 90th percentile was $51.95[9].
What degree do you need to be an archaeologist?
A master's degree in anthropology or archeology is the typical entry requirement, and some positions need a Ph.D.[2][15][18]. Some people start with a bachelor's degree and related experience[20].
How long does it take to become an archaeologist?
Master's degree programs usually take 2 years[16]. A Ph.D. takes additional years beyond that[19].
Is archaeology in demand?
BLS projects 6% job growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 800 openings a year[3][36][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists in the US was $70,770 per year and $34.02 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Anthropologists and Archeologists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Anthropologists and Archeologists is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 10,200 to 10,800 jobs (a change of +600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Anthropologists and Archeologists: 10th percentile $49,050, 25th percentile $59,400, 75th percentile $89,670, 90th percentile $108,060. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 800 openings for Anthropologists and Archeologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists was $75,620 per year and $36.35 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Anthropologists and Archeologists: 10th percentile $23.58, 25th percentile $28.56, 75th percentile $43.11, 90th percentile $51.95. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Anthropologists and Archeologists jobs: California 2,060; Florida 620; Arizona 500; Texas 430; Virginia 320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $87,400; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $85,160; Urban Honolulu, HI $84,530; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $79,530; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $75,480; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $74,630; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $70,690; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $66,310. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Anthropologists and Archeologists jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 540 (median $65,240); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 350 (median $75,480); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 270 (median $63,010); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 250 (median $87,400); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 230 (median $66,160); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 200 (median $79,530). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 19-3091.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 40%, Master's Degree 30%, Bachelor's Degree 20%, Some College Courses 5%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Anthropologists and Archeologists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Anthropologists and Archeologists. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 19-3091.00 sample job titles reported by workers: American Indian Policy Specialist, Applied Anthropologist, Applied Cultural Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Communication and Folklore Specialist, Forensic Anthropologist, Historical Archaeologist, Research Archaeologist. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of anthropologists and archeologists in 2025: Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 28%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: 8.9% of Anthropologists and Archeologists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Anthropologists and Archeologists: 1.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 8,990 people were employed as Anthropologists and Archeologists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  39. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.