Anthropologists and Archeologists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for anthropologists and archeologistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $75,620 ≈ $36/hr
National median salary $70,770
Total employment 8,990 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +3.7%
About as fast as average
Annual openings 800 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 8,800 → 9,200 (+300)
Typical entry education Master's degree
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Massachusetts$107,710
- Hawaii$95,980
- Alaska$92,630
- Nebraska$92,050
- Oregon$89,050
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $107,710 | $121,300 | $52 | +42.4% | 80 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $95,980 | $84,530 | $46 | +26.9% | 210 |
| 3 | Alaska | $92,630 | $89,810 | $45 | +22.5% | 130 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $92,050 | $94,520 | $44 | +21.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Oregon | $89,050 | $84,970 | $43 | +17.8% | 240 |
| 6 | Idaho | $85,240 | $88,710 | $41 | +12.7% | 170 |
| 7 | Montana | $82,960 | $79,420 | $40 | +9.7% | 80 |
| 8 | Washington | $81,460 | $74,790 | $39 | +7.7% | 260 |
| 9 | Virginia | $81,400 | $80,230 | $39 | +7.6% | 320 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $79,770 | $91,420 | $38 | +5.5% | — |
| 11 | North Carolina | $79,060 | $73,130 | $38 | +4.5% | 200 |
| 12 | New York | $77,420 | $67,220 | $37 | +2.4% | 120 |
| 13 | California | $77,230 | $72,240 | $37 | +2.1% | 2,060 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $76,550 | $66,230 | $37 | +1.2% | 140 |
| 15 | Texas | $76,310 | $67,700 | $37 | +0.9% | 430 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $76,260 | $76,400 | $37 | +0.8% | 80 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $76,250 | $79,660 | $37 | +0.8% | 130 |
| 18 | Missouri | $76,000 | $66,930 | $37 | +0.5% | 80 |
| 19 | Colorado | $74,900 | $68,620 | $36 | -1% | 250 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $74,230 | $72,230 | $36 | -1.8% | 70 |
| 21 | Utah | $74,110 | $73,920 | $36 | -2% | 120 |
| 22 | Arizona | $73,980 | $65,290 | $36 | -2.2% | 500 |
| 23 | Nevada | $73,840 | $64,390 | $36 | -2.4% | 230 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $71,450 | $71,740 | $34 | -5.5% | 90 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $71,400 | $68,180 | $34 | -5.6% | 230 |
| 26 | Iowa | $70,470 | $67,270 | $34 | -6.8% | 40 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $70,280 | $65,920 | $34 | -7.1% | 140 |
| 28 | South Carolina | $69,930 | $63,130 | $34 | -7.5% | 50 |
| 29 | Michigan | $69,800 | $64,700 | $34 | -7.7% | — |
| 30 | South Dakota | $69,430 | $63,130 | $33 | -8.2% | 40 |
| 31 | Maryland | $69,160 | $54,160 | $33 | -8.5% | 220 |
| 32 | Alabama | $68,840 | $75,690 | $33 | -9% | 170 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $68,380 | $62,160 | $33 | -9.6% | 60 |
| 34 | Florida | $67,980 | $59,270 | $33 | -10.1% | 620 |
| 35 | Georgia | $66,820 | $58,990 | $32 | -11.6% | 150 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $66,680 | $61,160 | $32 | -11.8% | 40 |
| 37 | Indiana | $66,450 | $63,730 | $32 | -12.1% | 70 |
| 38 | Illinois | $65,610 | $59,560 | $32 | -13.2% | 140 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $65,240 | $63,830 | $31 | -13.7% | — |
| 40 | West Virginia | $64,770 | $54,340 | $31 | -14.3% | 50 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $64,630 | $63,130 | $31 | -14.5% | 40 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $63,970 | $60,310 | $31 | -15.4% | 160 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $62,960 | $47,750 | $30 | -16.7% | 110 |
| 44 | Ohio | $61,590 | $59,160 | $30 | -18.6% | 70 |
| 45 | Kansas | $45,340 | $41,870 | $22 | -40% | 60 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 61 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $117,080 | $104,900 | 70 |
| 2 | Boise City, ID | $104,250 | $93,820 | 90 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $94,210 | $94,780 | 60 |
| 4 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $92,620 | $90,370 | 40 |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $87,400 | $89,890 | 250 |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $85,160 | $91,670 | 130 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,530 | $97,760 | 170 |
| 8 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $83,600 | $88,520 | 50 |
| 9 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $80,270 | $86,240 | 30 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $80,230 | $87,040 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing anthropologists and archeologistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $95,990 | $90,970 | 40 |
| 2 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $91,560 | $94,200 | 1,770 |
| 3 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $91,560 | $94,200 | 1,770 |
| 4 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $88,610 | $90,320 | 2,290 |
| 5 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $88,610 | $90,320 | 2,290 |
| 6 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $83,780 | $86,580 | 2,640 |
| 7 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $79,170 | $83,460 | 170 |
| 8 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $78,630 | $82,900 | 180 |
| 9 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $70,770 | $73,990 | 350 |
| 10 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $70,770 | $75,620 | 8,990 |
| 11 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $66,580 | $74,920 | 630 |
| 12 | Engineering Services | $66,560 | $73,510 | 560 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make in the U.S.?
The median anthropologists and archeologists salary in the United States is $70,770 per year (mean $75,620), and about 80% earn between $49,050 and $108,060.
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make per hour?
Roughly $36 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $75,620 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays anthropologists and archeologists the most?
Massachusetts has the highest average pay for anthropologists and archeologists at $107,710 per year (median $121,300).
What is the job outlook for anthropologists and archeologists?
Employment is projected to change +3.7% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 800 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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