Anthropologists and Archeologists salary in the U.S.
Anthropologists and Archeologists in the U.S. earn a median of $70,770 a year ($34.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,990 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $108,060 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $75,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for anthropologists and archeologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| 25th percentile | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Median | $70,770 | $34.02 |
| 75th percentile | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,060 | $51.95 |
| Average (mean) | $75,620 | $36.35 |
Half of anthropologists and archeologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,897.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,948.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,721.92 |
| Weekly | $1,360.96 |
| Hourly | $34.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Anthropologists and Archeologists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121,300 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $94,520 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $91,420 | n/a |
| Alaska | $89,810 | 130 |
| Idaho | $88,710 | 170 |
| Oregon | $84,970 | 240 |
| Hawaii | $84,530 | 210 |
| Virginia | $80,230 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,660 | 130 |
| Montana | $79,420 | 80 |
| Wyoming | $76,400 | 80 |
| Alabama | $75,690 | 170 |
| Washington | $74,790 | 260 |
| Utah | $73,920 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $73,130 | 200 |
| California | $72,240 | 2,060 |
| Kentucky | $72,230 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $71,740 | 90 |
| Puerto Rico | $70,950 | 40 |
| Colorado | $68,620 | 250 |
| New Mexico | $68,180 | 230 |
| Texas | $67,700 | 430 |
| Iowa | $67,270 | 40 |
| New York | $67,220 | 120 |
| Missouri | $66,930 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $66,230 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $65,920 | 140 |
| Arizona | $65,290 | 500 |
| Michigan | $64,700 | n/a |
| Nevada | $64,390 | 230 |
| North Dakota | $63,830 | n/a |
| Indiana | $63,730 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $63,130 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $63,130 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $63,130 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $62,160 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $61,160 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $60,310 | 160 |
| Illinois | $59,560 | 140 |
| Florida | $59,270 | 620 |
| Ohio | $59,160 | 70 |
| Georgia | $58,990 | 150 |
| West Virginia | $54,340 | 50 |
| Maryland | $54,160 | 220 |
| Louisiana | $47,750 | 110 |
| Kansas | $41,870 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for anthropologists and archeologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $117,080 | 70 |
| Boise City, ID | $104,250 | 90 |
| Anchorage, AK | $94,210 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,400 | 250 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $85,160 | 130 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,530 | 170 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $80,270 | 30 |
| Richmond, VA | $80,230 | n/a |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $79,780 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $79,530 | 200 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $77,830 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $76,010 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $75,480 | 350 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $74,630 | 120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74,490 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most anthropologists and archeologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 540 | $65,240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 350 | $75,480 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 270 | $63,010 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 250 | $87,400 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 230 | $66,160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 200 | $79,530 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 170 | $84,530 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 150 | $55,370 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 150 | $66,310 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 130 | $85,160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 120 | $74,630 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 110 | $62,410 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 110 | $63,630 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 100 | $70,690 |
| Boise City, ID | 90 | $104,250 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $89,320 | $42.94 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | $53.29 |
| Economist | $124,720 | $59.96 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,460 | $33.40 |
| Political Scientist | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| Historian | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Sociologist | $106,030 | $50.98 |
| Geographer | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 | $93.24 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a anthropologists and archeologists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for anthropologists and archeologists in the U.S. is $70,770 a year, or $34.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $108,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid anthropologists and archeologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of anthropologists and archeologists in the U.S. earn at least $108,060 a year. The top 25% earn $89,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for anthropologists and archeologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,050 a year, and a quarter of anthropologists and archeologists earn $59,400 or less.
How many anthropologists and archeologists work in the U.S.?
About 8,990 anthropologists and archeologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.