Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists is $70,770, or $34.02 per hour. About 8,990 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $121,300 in Massachusetts to $41,870 in Kansas.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 45 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $121,300 | $58.32 | 80 | 0.38 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $94,520 | $45.44 | 40 | 0.66 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $91,420 | $43.95 | — | — |
| 4 | Alaska | $89,810 | $43.18 | 130 | 6.69 |
| 5 | Idaho | $88,710 | $42.65 | 170 | 3.40 |
| 6 | Oregon | $84,970 | $40.85 | 240 | 2.10 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $84,530 | $40.64 | 210 | 5.81 |
| 8 | Virginia | $80,230 | $38.57 | 320 | 1.34 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $79,660 | $38.30 | 130 | 0.37 |
| 10 | Montana | $79,420 | $38.18 | 80 | 2.57 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $76,400 | $36.73 | 80 | 5.14 |
| 12 | Alabama | $75,690 | $36.39 | 170 | 1.43 |
| 13 | Washington | $74,790 | $35.96 | 260 | 1.25 |
| 14 | Utah | $73,920 | $35.54 | 120 | 1.21 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $73,130 | $35.16 | 200 | 0.69 |
| 16 | California | $72,240 | $34.73 | 2,060 | 1.96 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $72,230 | $34.73 | 70 | 0.57 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $71,740 | $34.49 | 90 | 0.87 |
| 19 | Colorado | $68,620 | $32.99 | 250 | 1.50 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $68,180 | $32.78 | 230 | 4.47 |
| 21 | Texas | $67,700 | $32.55 | 430 | 0.52 |
| 22 | Iowa | $67,270 | $32.34 | 40 | 0.40 |
| 23 | New York | $67,220 | $32.32 | 120 | 0.21 |
| 24 | Missouri | $66,930 | $32.18 | 80 | 0.47 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $66,230 | $31.84 | 140 | 0.57 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $65,920 | $31.69 | 140 | 0.83 |
| 27 | Arizona | $65,290 | $31.39 | 500 | 2.69 |
| 28 | Michigan | $64,700 | $31.11 | — | — |
| 29 | Nevada | $64,390 | $30.96 | 230 | 2.61 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $63,830 | $30.69 | — | — |
| 31 | Indiana | $63,730 | $30.64 | 70 | 0.37 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $63,130 | $30.35 | 40 | 0.21 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $63,130 | $30.35 | 40 | 1.35 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $63,130 | $30.35 | 50 | 0.36 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $62,160 | $29.89 | 60 | 0.76 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $61,160 | $29.40 | 40 | 0.95 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $60,310 | $28.99 | 160 | 0.85 |
| 38 | Illinois | $59,560 | $28.63 | 140 | 0.39 |
| 39 | Florida | $59,270 | $28.49 | 620 | 1.07 |
| 40 | Ohio | $59,160 | $28.44 | 70 | 0.22 |
| 41 | Georgia | $58,990 | $28.36 | 150 | 0.52 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $54,340 | $26.13 | 50 | 1.21 |
| 43 | Maryland | $54,160 | $26.04 | 220 | 1.35 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $47,750 | $22.96 | 110 | 1.00 |
| 45 | Kansas | $41,870 | $20.13 | 60 | 0.78 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make?
The median annual wage for anthropologists and archeologists in the United States is $70,770, or $34.02 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $49,050, and the top 10% earn $108,060.
How many anthropologists and archeologists are employed in the U.S.?
About 8,990 people work as anthropologists and archeologists nationwide.
Which state pays anthropologists and archeologists the most?
Massachusetts pays the most at a median of $121,300, followed by Nebraska ($94,520) and Connecticut ($91,420).
Which state pays anthropologists and archeologists the least?
Kansas has the lowest median at $41,870.
Where are anthropologists and archeologists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Alaska at 6.69×.