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
SpeakingWritingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Sociology and AnthropologyEnglish LanguageHistory and ArcheologyForeign LanguageEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Document management softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareDesktop publishing softwareAnalytical or scientific software
Representative tasks
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.Apply traditional ecological knowledge and assessments of culturally distinctive land and resource management institutions to assist in the resolution of conflicts over habitat protection and resource enhancement.Lead field training sites and train field staff, students, and volunteers in excavation methods.Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.Develop and test theories concerning the origin and development of past cultures.Research, survey, or assess sites of past societies and cultures in search of answers to specific research questions.Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.Advise government agencies, private organizations, and communities regarding proposed programs, plans, and policies and their potential impacts on cultural institutions, organizations, and communities.Organize public exhibits and displays to promote public awareness of diverse and distinctive cultural traditions.Collaborate with economic development planners to decide on the implementation of proposed development policies, plans, and programs based on culturally institutionalized barriers and facilitating circumstances.Develop intervention procedures, using techniques such as individual and focus group interviews, consultations, and participant observation of social interaction.Enhance the cultural sensitivity of elementary and secondary curricula and classroom interactions in collaboration with educators and teachers.Study archival collections of primary historical sources to help explain the origins and development of cultural patterns.Formulate general rules that describe and predict the development and behavior of cultures and social institutions.Record the exact locations and conditions of artifacts uncovered in diggings or surveys, using drawings and photographs as necessary.Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.Gather and analyze artifacts and skeletal remains to increase knowledge of ancient cultures.Compare findings from one site with archeological data from other sites to find similarities or differences.Describe artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.Collect artifacts made of stone, bone, metal, and other materials, placing them in bags and marking them to show where they were found.Study objects and structures recovered by excavation to identify, date, and authenticate them and to interpret their significance.Consult site reports, existing artifacts, and topographic maps to identify archeological sites.Clean, restore, and preserve artifacts.Participate in forensic activities, such as tooth and bone structure identification, in conjunction with police departments and pathologists.
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
39 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
EthnoarchaeologistArchaeological Field TechnicianMedical AnthropologistHistorian Apprentice (Air Force 3H031)Historian Manager (Air Force 3H000)Cultural Resources TechnicianHistorian (Air Force 3H0X1)Applied AnthropologistHistorian Helper (Air Force 3H011)ExcavatorHistorian Superintendent (Air Force 3H091)Applied Cultural AnthropologistPolicy SpecialistResearch ArchaeologistHistorian Craftsman (Air Force 3H071)ArchaeologistCultural Resources SpecialistForensic AnthropologistEthnologistAnthropologistPhysical AnthropologistHistorian (Marine Corps 8878)EgyptologistInvestigatorPublic Policy SpecialistAnthropologist, PhysicalResearch AnthropologistProject ArchaeologistPolitical AnthropologistHistorian Journeyman (Air Force 3H051)ArcheologistField ArchaeologistHistorian (Air Force 84H0)Historical Officer (Navy 2415)Archaeological Technician (Archeological Tech)Historical ArchaeologistResearcherCommunication and Folklore SpecialistAmerican Indian Policy Specialist