I work for the historic preservation division with the goal of working with local communities to empower them to interpret and protect their cultural resources. This means hosting a lot of outreach events and community days to introduce people to the cultural artifacts in their communities. There is also a lot of local travel involved visiting different sites.
CAREER
Anthropologists and Archeologists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$66,130
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+5.2% (as fast as the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Master's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What 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.
Other Job Titles Anthropologists and Archeologists May Have
American Indian Policy Specialist, Applied Anthropologist, Applied Cultural Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Curator, Forensic Anthropologist, Research Anthropologist, Research Archaeologist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Study objects and structures recovered by excavation to identify, date, and authenticate them and to interpret their significance.
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Research, survey, or assess sites of past societies and cultures in search of answers to specific research questions.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- Describe artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Anthropologists and Archeologists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (42%)
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
You have to have an interest in people and be able to communicate effectively with them. Being able to translate and relay complex scientific information to the general public is valuable.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
College Students
Notice the gaps and opportunities in the field you are interested in and how to apply the things you've learned in the classroom in new/interesting ways.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
