Anthropologists and Archeologists

Anthropologists study the origin and cultural, social, and physical development of humans. They study the traditions, values, beliefs and possessions of people and societies throughout the world and create hypothesis based on their research. They typically specialize in physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology or linguistics.

They advise government agencies, communities and private organizations regarding proposed plans, programs and policies and their potential impact on organizations, cultural institutions and communities.

Cultural anthropologists examine the cultures of communities. They study the customs and behavior of a community's citizens. Cultural anthropologists evaluate various aspects of a society including a society's religion, music and how they take care of their senior citizens. They gather information and attempt to make conclusions about a society's ways of life.

Physical anthropologists study the physical development of the human species. They examine how heredity and environment influences humans. Physical anthropologists study the geographical distribution of the physical characteristics of humans.

Linguistic anthropologists analyze the evolution of languages and the relationships between languages. They attempt to explain how a community's language relates to the ways a society's citizens act and think.

Archeologists attempt to discover the history, living habits and customs of earlier human civilizations. They document, analyze and interpret objects including homes, clothing, tools and art from former human civilizations. Archeologists often excavate objects from the ground. They are sometimes asked to perform a survey when ground will be disturbed during a project. They work in labs, the field and in classrooms.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and test theories regarding the origin and development of cultures from the past
  • Gather information and make judgements through interviews, observation and evaluating documents
  • Compare findings among different sites to learn the similarities and differences
  • Describe artifacts' physical properties
  • Write, publish and present reports
  • Evaluate objects and structures and identify, data and authenticate objects and interpret their significance
  • Write about research findings
  • Construct and test data gathering methods

Job Characteristics

They work in the field, classroom settings, labs and museums. Some jobs in anthropology require travel and being away from home for long periods of time.

Employment Outlook

The employment growth for anthropologists and archeologists is projected to be much faster than the average for all occupations from 2008 to 2018. The median annual earnings in 2008 for anthropologists and archeologists was $53,910.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

A bachelor's degree in archaeology or anthropology is the minimum requirement for an anthropologist or archeologist job. However, many employers prefer candidates that have a master's degree or a Ph.D. Many teachings positions in colleges and universities require a Ph.D.

Resources

Major Employers

The major employers are colleges, universities, museums and government agencies.

Schools for Anthropologists And Archaeologists are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Anthropologists and Archaeologists Skills

Below are the skills needed to be anthropologists and archaeologists according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Reading Comprehension4.255
Writing4.255.12
Active Learning44.38
Active Listening44.38
Critical Thinking44.5

Anthropologists and Archaeologists Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be anthropologists and archaeologists according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Written Comprehension4.255
Written Expression4.255.12
Inductive Reasoning4.124.88
Oral Expression4.125.12
Deductive Reasoning44.88

Anthropologists and Archaeologists Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be anthropologists and archaeologists according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Sociology and Anthropology56.56
English Language4.465.39
History and Archeology4.325.75
Education and Training3.825.46
Foreign Language3.544.29

Anthropologists and Archaeologists Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being anthropologists and archaeologists according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Analyzing Data or Information4.796.07
Getting Information4.796.07
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others4.645.71
Documenting/Recording Information4.575.04
Processing Information4.576.14

Anthropologists and Archaeologists Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being anthropologists and archaeologists according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Analytical Thinking4.64
Integrity4.5
Persistence4.43
Attention to Detail4.39
Initiative4.36

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Anthropologists and Archaeologists

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Anthropologists and Archaeologists jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade280$78,050
San Diego-Carlsbad210$66,080
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale180$69,950
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward150$69,480
Reno140$61,180
Tucson130$58,370
Albuquerque110$60,800
Urban Honolulu100$83,740
Austin-Round Rock90$65,970
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue90$77,910

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Employment
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Total employment and salary for professions similar to anthropologists and archaeologists

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org