If people’s interactions and the growth of communities and cultures fascinate you, you may want to pursue a career in anthropology, the study of human communities. As an anthropologist, you complete research on the formation of cultures and assist communities in unique and useful ways.
A background in anthropology lets you work in several different types of organisations, using your interest in other people to benefit members of the public.
Currently, the average hourly pay for an Anthropologist in the United States is $18.18 an hour. While hourly wages can get as high as $21.15 and as low as $5.29, the majority of Anthropologist wages currently range between $16.11 (25th percentile) to $19.23 (75th percentile) across the United States.
The average pay range for an Anthropologist varies little (about $3.12). This suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience.
Who is an anthropologist?
An anthropologist is a professional who examines what makes people human. Although virtually all humans require the same things to exist, such as food, water and companionship, how people achieve these requirements varies greatly. Anthropologists study cultures and communities and how they interact and evolve. They use a comprehensive approach called holism to examine the many distinct facets of the human experience.
Anthropologists use archaeology to go back hundreds of years and understand how human cultures lived and what they deemed significant. In their work, they look at the bones, physical bodies, ancestry, food and overall wellness of people from past civilisations. They often compare humans to other species to determine their similarities and differences.
Some anthropologists specialise in a certain sub-discipline, such as archaeology, linguistics or biological anthropology. They may work for a commercial company, a non-profit organisation, a government agency or an institution, such as a college or university.
Anthropology sub-fields
Each of the four disciplines of anthropology requires its own unique set of abilities, but there are some parallels between them. For example, each discipline applies theories, adopts systematic research procedures and formulates and evaluates hypotheses.
The four sub-fields of anthropology are:
Archaeology
Archaeologists investigate human existence by examining the artefacts that humans created. They meticulously collect pottery and artefacts from the ground and make records of the sites of buildings and cemeteries to learn about people’s everyday existence. They also examine human teeth and bones to learn more about a person’s diet and physical health.
Archaeologists gather plant, animal and soil remnants from the sites where humans lived to learn how they used and modified their natural settings. Like other branches of anthropology, archaeology has a primary interest in understanding differences and patterns in human cultures through time and location.
Biological anthropology
Biological anthropologists study how people adapt to their surroundings, what causes death and disease and how humans developed from other species. They do so by studying humans, other primates, including apes and monkeys and fossils.
Biological anthropologists also have a keen interest in how biology and culture interact to shape lives. They aspire to know why there remain so many similarities and differences between people all around the world. Biological anthropologists have demonstrated that, although people differ in biology and behaviour, they’re more alike than different.
Linguistic anthropology
Linguistic anthropologists research the many ways in which people communicate across the world. They aspire to know how language affects human perceptions of the environment and how people interact with one another. This entails investigating how language functions in all of its forms and how it evolves. It also entails examining individual attitudes about language and communication and how people use language in their daily lives.
This covers how humans use language to create and communicate meaning, to develop and modify identities and to create power dynamics.
Sociocultural anthropology
Sociocultural anthropologists study how people in different places live and perceive the world. People can differ in how they talk to or treat others, even within the same country or community. Sociocultural anthropologists study a wide range of people and perspectives to better understand how cultures differ. They frequently discover that living among other ethnicities and cultures remains the greatest way to learn about them.
They endeavour to comprehend the viewpoints, behaviours and social structures of communities whose beliefs and lifestyles differ from their own.
How to become an anthropologist
As an anthropologist, you learn about the biological and cultural variety of humans. Studying both science and the humanities provides you with a wide discipline that can lead to a range of vocations. Take the following steps to become an anthropologist:
Earn a bachelor’s degree
Enrol in a university to complete an undergraduate course. Many universities offer anthropology as an option for study. Each university’s main areas of study are very likely to be different, so before picking a university to attend, review the individual modules on offer. When choosing a university, remember to consider fees and location. As an undergraduate, look for chances to do research and internships.
These experiences can help you prepare for a future in anthropology and stand out when you start applying for full-time, permanent positions.
Choose a field of specialty
As an anthropologist, it’s important to specialise throughout your undergraduate studies. Each of the four primary fields of anthropology has several sub-categories. Your undergraduate field of interest informs your graduate studies and career as a professional anthropologist, so be sure to look into all of your choices.
Consider how various specialities intersect.
Research vacancies
Research vacancies in your field of specialisation and your target location throughout and after your anthropological study. If you’re able to relocate, consider looking at positions in different parts of the country. When you’re looking for a job, take note of the criteria necessary for the open positions you discover, and make a list of any additional certifications or years of experience that your ideal job requires.
Many vacancies allow candidates to offer numerous qualification options, so do not hesitate to apply for positions where you satisfy as many of the criteria possible.
Apply for roles
Adapt your CV and cover letter to the specific anthropology jobs that you’re looking for. Include best practices and current information in your field of expertise in your application forms. Check for keywords in the job postings that you’re applying for, and make sure that you include them in your CV and cover letter.
Anthropologist salary expectations
The national average salary of an anthropologist is £22,460 per year.
- Starting-level anthropologist earnings begin at $18.21 per hour and $37,870 per annum
- Junior-level anthropologist earnings begin at $23.28 per hour and $48,420 per year
- Mid-level anthropologist earnings begin at $29.76 per hour and $61,910 per year
- Senior-level anthropologist earnings begin at $37.95 per hour and $78,930 per year
- Top-level anthropologist earnings begin at $48.00 per hour and $99,830 per annum
Below is a comparison of anthropology salary by state average:
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $92,150 |
| Massachusetts | $90,940 |
| Alaska | $79,520 |
| Hawaii | $78,930 |
| Idaho | $78,030 |
| Nebraska | $77,730 |
| Washington | $77,240 |
| Oregon | $73,260 |
| Michigan | $72,800 |
| West Virginia | $71,220 |
| Wyoming | $71,120 |
| Louisiana | $64,650 |
| New Jersey | $64,650 |
| New York | $64,250 |
| Rhode Island | $64,230 |
| Montana | $63,750 |
| California | $63,520 |
| New Mexico | $63,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,750 |
| Minnesota | $61,930 |
| Nevada | $61,920 |
| Colorado | $61,890 |
| Utah | $61,780 |
| Texas | $61,650 |
| Arkansas | $61,220 |
| North Carolina | $61,100 |
| Wisconsin | $60,540 |
| South Carolina | $60,270 |
| North Dakota | $60,210 |
| Arizona | $60,040 |
| Oklahoma | $60,040 |
| Iowa | $58,250 |
| Indiana | $56,810 |
| Alabama | $55,190 |
| Connecticut | $54,030 |
| Kentucky | $51,850 |
| Maryland | $50,950 |
| Virginia | $50,860 |
| Florida | $50,230 |
| Georgia | $49,550 |
| Illinois | $49,090 |
| Ohio | $49,090 |
| South Dakota | $48,230 |
| Tennessee | $47,040 |
| Missouri | $36,560 |
Highest-paying cities for anthropologist jobs
There are ten cities where the typical salary for an Anthropologist job is above the national average. Topping the list is Sunnyvale, CA, with Livermore, CA and Santa Rosa, CA close behind in the second and third positions. Santa Rosa, CA beats the national average by $7,871 (20.8%), and Sunnyvale, CA furthers that trend with another $9,355 (24.7%) above the $37,814 average.
With these cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an anthropologist appear to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top ten cities varies very little at 10% between Sunnyvale, CA and Costa Mesa, CA, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for an Anthropologist role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | $47,169 | $3,930 | $907 | $22.68 |
| Livermore, CA | $45,957 | $3,829 | $883 | $22.09 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $45,685 | $3,807 | $878 | $21.96 |
| Cambridge, MA | $44,386 | $3,698 | $853 | $21.34 |
| Vacaville, CA | $43,443 | $3,620 | $835 | $20.89 |
| New York City, NY | $43,292 | $3,607 | $832 | $20.81 |
| Lynn, MA | $43,154 | $3,596 | $829 | $20.75 |
| Fairfield, CA | $42,819 | $3,568 | $823 | $20.59 |
| Long Beach, CA | $42,770 | $3,564 | $822 | $20.56 |
| Costa Mesa, CA | $42,646 | $3,553 | $820 | $20.50 |
Important skills for an anthropologist
Anthropologists research human origins, development and behaviour. They look at people’s cultures, archaeological relics and physical traits from all around the world. Important skills for an anthropologist include:
- Analytical skills. Anthropologists need to familiarise themselves with scientific procedures and data to perform their research.
- Critical thinking skills. Anthropologists derive conclusions from sightings, laboratory tests and other research techniques. Therefore, they need to synthesise data from a variety of sources to solve issues and respond to research queries.
- Communication skills. A major part of an anthropologist’s work is producing reports or articles for academic publications and sharing their studies and conclusions with colleagues and the public. Strong writing, speaking and listening abilities are important for these tasks.
- Physical stamina. Field anthropologists and archaeologists occasionally travel or walk many kilometres to a study site while carrying heavy or delicate equipment.
Anthropological study remains an excellent way for businesses to better understand customer demand within certain cultures or groups in society. Anthropologists are also good at evaluating markets, allowing corporations to better engage their consumers or target new groups of the population. The most common career for an anthropology graduate is to be a welfare and residential associate professional.
Police jobs, care professions (including home caregivers) and administration also make up some of the other fields that they might pursue.
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