Anthropologists and archeologists
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.
Anthropologists and archeologists 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $64,910 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Master's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.42 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Writing, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £39,899 a year for Social and humanities scientists (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2115). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Anthropologists and archeologists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Anthropology — BA / B.Sc (Hons) Anthropology (three years, or four years with research)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Sociology and Anthropology
- English Language
- History and Archeology
- Foreign Language
- Education and Training
- Geography
- Communications and Media
- Philosophy and Theology
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Anthropologists and archeologists 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.
How much does Anthropologists and archeologists earn?
The median annual salary for Anthropologists and archeologists in the US is $64,910.
What is the job outlook for Anthropologists and archeologists?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 8,800 workers.
How do I become anthropologists and archeologists?
The typical entry education is a Master's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Anthropologists and archeologists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Writing, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Active Learning. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Anthropologists and archeologists?
Our AI-durability model gives Anthropologists and archeologists a score of 0.42 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Anthropologists and archeologists has high barrier to entry — highly gated — a graduate degree or extended training/apprenticeship is typically required.