Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Archaeologist
- Communication and Folklore Specialist
- Forensic Anthropologist
- Researcher
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
- Cultural Resources Technician
- Egyptologist
- Ethnoarchaeologist
- Ethnologist
- Excavator
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Write, present, and publish research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Sociology and Anthropology
- English Language
- History and Archeology
- Foreign Language
- Education and Training
- Geography
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Information Ordering
- Category Flexibility
- Speech Recognition
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
- Attention to Detail
- Adaptability
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C++
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Access
Tools & Equipment
- 35 millimeter cameras
- Alidades
- Bench scales
- Binoculars
- Bucket augers
- Cold chisels
- Conductance meters
- Conductivity probes
- Countertop centrifuges
- Crack hammers
- Dental burs
- Dental picks
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA analyzers
- Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequencers
- Desktop computers
Work Environment
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $44,510 |
| Median | $64,910 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $104,510 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 8,070
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Historians
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $74,050
Sociologists
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $101,690
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $95,770
Geographers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $97,200
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $84,290
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.