Anthropologists and Archeologists

What the work involves

• 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.
• Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
• Identify culturally specific beliefs and practices affecting health status and access to services for distinct populations and communities, in collaboration with medical and public health officials.
• Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
• Advise government agencies, private organizations, and communities regarding proposed programs, plans, and policies and their potential impacts on cultural institutions, organizations, and communities.

What to study

The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.

• AnthropologySee 465 colleges that teach it
• Classical and Ancient StudiesSee 70 colleges that teach it
• Sociology and AnthropologySee 60 colleges that teach it
• ArcheologySee 53 colleges that teach it

Who it suits

O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.

• Analytical and curious

• Creative and expressive

• Hands-on and practical

Careers like this one

• Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
• Geographers$102,040
• Astronomers$128,820
• Biochemists and Biophysicists$127,410
• Neuropsychologists$110,840
• Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$101,920