Occupation · SOC 19-3091
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
349 mapped
Core skills
WritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingMonitoringLearning StrategiesJudgment and Decision MakingInstructingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationTime ManagementSystems AnalysisScienceManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationPersuasionService OrientationMathematicsNegotiationManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisTechnology DesignProgrammingOperations AnalysisOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionTroubleshootingRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Sociology and AnthropologyEnglish LanguageHistory and ArcheologyForeign LanguageEducation and TrainingGeographyCommunications and MediaPhilosophy and TheologyComputers and ElectronicsPsychologyAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentBiologyMathematicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativeMedicine and DentistryTelecommunicationsPublic Safety and SecurityFine ArtsDesignCustomer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingEconomics and AccountingTransportationChemistrySales and MarketingProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologyMechanicalPhysicsBuilding and ConstructionFood Production
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAdobe DreamweaverAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PageMakerAdobe PhotoshopAge progression softwareApple Final Cut ExpressApple iMovieApplied Biosystems GeneMapperArcheological Sites Management Information System ASMISAutodesk AutoCADAutomated National Catalog System ANCSC++Data visualization softwareESRI ArcGIS Survey 123ESRI ArcGIS softwareESRI ArcInfoESRI ArcViewFacebookGE Healthcare ImageQuant TLGene Codes SequencherGenealogy softwareGeographic information system GIS softwareGeographic information system GIS systemsGlobal positioning system GPS softwareGolden Software SurferGraphics softwareIBM SPSS StatisticsImage enhancement softwareInsightful S-PLUSLeica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINEMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft FrontPageMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePoint
Representative tasks
Getting InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDocumenting/Recording InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsWorking with ComputersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsProcessing InformationTraining and Teaching OthersThinking CreativelyCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsScheduling Work and ActivitiesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming Administrative ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsStaffing Organizational UnitsSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsAssisting and Caring for OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Ethnographic observation and interview protocols — apply under faculty supervision to collect preliminary field data within a defined cultural community or site.Research literature and primary source documents — review and synthesize to support ongoing departmental or laboratory research projects under senior guidance.Descriptive data records — create using photography, audio recording, and field notes to document social patterns during supervised fieldwork.Foundational anthropological and archaeological concepts — demonstrate comprehension when assisting senior researchers in designing pilot study instruments.Written research summaries — draft for internal review, translating field observations into structured prose under editorial supervision of a principal investigator.Geographic information system (GIS) software — operate at a basic level to plot site or community data under the direction of an experienced project team member.Cultural belief systems and their relationship to health practices — identify preliminary patterns while assisting collaborative projects with public health partners.Analytical or scientific software databases — enter, query, and maintain social or archaeological data records in support of an established research team.Oral presentations of early-stage findings — deliver to departmental seminars under mentorship, demonstrating clarity and foundational disciplinary vocabulary.Ethnographic research methods — learn and begin to apply in organizational or community contexts as a supervised team member on an applied research project.
developing
Field observation, structured interviews, and archival document review — conduct independently to collect and evaluate data for mid-scale cultural or archaeological studies.Comparative cultural analyses — perform routinely, characterizing demographic, linguistic, and social institutions across two or more communities with limited oversight.Research findings — write and present to both specialized peer audiences and general stakeholders, adapting communication style to each audience's level of expertise.Photographic, video, and audio recording workflows — manage to produce systematic data records that meet project archival and analytical standards.Undergraduate coursework in anthropological theory and methods — teach or co-instruct, designing lesson plans that connect foundational concepts to contemporary fieldwork.Analytical software and database tools — use proficiently to code qualitative data, run descriptive statistics, and generate visualizations for project reports.Culturally specific health beliefs and access barriers — investigate in collaboration with medical or public health officials, contributing culturally informed recommendations.Ethnographic research methods — train small teams of research assistants or junior staff to apply in organizational effectiveness or policy-planning contexts.GIS and spatial analysis tools — apply to map and interpret land-use patterns, site distributions, or resource management territories within a defined research region.Research proposals for mid-scale studies — develop and submit to internal or external review bodies, incorporating literature review, methodological rationale, and timeline.
proficient
Multi-site ethnographic and archaeological research — plan and direct autonomously, coordinating cross-disciplinary teams to characterize complex cultural, political, and economic systems.Non-routine field challenges including site access disputes or participant confidentiality conflicts — resolve by applying advanced judgment, professional ethics, and institutional protocols.Peer-reviewed manuscripts and book-length scholarly works — produce independently, contributing original theoretical and empirical knowledge to the discipline.Graduate seminars and mentorship programs — lead, guiding master's and doctoral students through thesis design, fieldwork, and scholarly publication processes.Ecological knowledge systems and indigenous resource management institutions — assess and apply to inform habitat protection decisions in collaboration with environmental agencies.Health disparities affecting culturally distinct populations — analyze comprehensively and translate findings into actionable policy recommendations in partnership with public health authorities.Complex qualitative and quantitative datasets — integrate using advanced analytical software, GIS platforms, and database systems to produce authoritative interpretive reports.Applied ethnographic training programs — design and deliver for interdisciplinary professionals in technology development, organizational management, or government policy contexts.Cultural resource management assessments — conduct for regulatory compliance and heritage preservation, producing formal reports that meet federal and international standards.Cross-cultural conflict over land and resource rights — investigate through ethnographic and ecological methods, providing expert analysis that informs mediation or legal proceedings.
advanced
Long-range departmental or organizational research agendas — set and champion, aligning anthropological and archaeological inquiry with institutional mission and funding strategy.Doctoral training programs and faculty development initiatives — lead, establishing mentorship structures that cultivate the next generation of independent researchers and practitioners.National or international research collaborations — direct across multiple institutions and cultural contexts, negotiating shared methodological standards and ethical frameworks.High-impact policy briefs and public scholarship — author and disseminate to government bodies, international organizations, and media outlets, translating disciplinary expertise into societal impact.Large-scale grant portfolios and external funding relationships — develop and steward, positioning the institution as a leading center for anthropological and archaeological research.Ethical governance frameworks for research involving indigenous communities and sensitive heritage — establish at institutional or professional-association level, influencing field-wide practice.Cross-sector applied anthropology programs — architect and institutionalize, embedding ethnographic methods within corporate, public health, technology, and environmental policy organizations.Personnel and project resources across multi-year, multi-site fieldwork programs — manage strategically, optimizing team composition, budget allocation, and timeline to achieve research excellence.Disciplinary standards for data curation, open science, and digital heritage archiving — define and advocate for, shaping how the profession preserves and disseminates its scholarly record.Complex societal conflicts involving cultural identity, resource sovereignty, and ecological sustainability — engage as a recognized expert authority, providing testimony, mediation support, and strategic counsel to decision-makers.
Also known as
28 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
American Indian Policy SpecialistAnthropologistApplied AnthropologistApplied Cultural AnthropologistArchaeological Field TechnicianArchaeological Technician (Archeological Tech)ArchaeologistArcheologistCommunication and Folklore SpecialistCultural Resources SpecialistCultural Resources TechnicianEgyptologistEthnoarchaeologistEthnologistExcavatorField ArchaeologistForensic AnthropologistHistorical ArchaeologistInvestigatorMedical AnthropologistPhysical AnthropologistPolicy SpecialistPolitical AnthropologistProject ArchaeologistPublic Policy SpecialistResearch AnthropologistResearch ArchaeologistResearcher