The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists was $61,220 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,440, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $97,040.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for anthropologists and archeologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Federal government, excluding postal service
$74,860
Engineering services
61,070
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
58,510
State and local government, excluding education and hospitals
56,650
Research and development in the social sciences and humanities
54,390
Many anthropologists and archeologists work full time during regular business hours. When doing fieldwork, anthropologists and archeologists may be required to travel and work many and irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.
Anthropologists and Archeologists
Median annual wages, May 2015
Social scientists and related workers
$72,570
Anthropologists and archeologists
$61,220
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics