20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You’ll split time between teaching, research, and administrative tasks. Mornings often mean preparing or delivering classes in Microsoft PowerPoint and grading papers and exams using Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
Afternoons can be fieldwork planning (ethnographic field research), office hours advising students, writing grant proposals, or attending meetings in Microsoft Outlook. Evenings or set days are for reading journals, writing manuscripts, and preparing reports.
Expect everyday use of Microsoft Office: Word for papers and reports, Excel for datasets, PowerPoint for lectures, and Outlook for scheduling and email. Use Adobe Acrobat to prepare PDFs for syllabi and submissions.
For spatial or mapping research you’ll use ESRI ArcGIS. Google Docs is common for collaborative grading and shared syllabi. Learn basic Excel and ArcGIS early; they show up in class prep, field data, and grant budgets.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, 2025), about 5,240 people are employed as postsecondary anthropology and archaeology teachers. The median annual wage is $99,650, the lowest tenth is $57,840, and the top tenth is $171,310.
Salaries vary by school type, rank (assistant, associate, full), and location. Tenure-track positions usually pay more and include research support; adjunct roles pay less and rarely include benefits.
Take method courses (ethnography, archaeological methods) and learn Excel and basic GIS (ESRI ArcGIS). Get experience doing small-scale field projects or assisting faculty research.
Seek mentorship — act as a research assistant, attend faculty office hours, and practice writing short grant-style proposals. Compile bibliographies and learn to use Microsoft PowerPoint to present findings at conferences.
Use AI to draft lecture outlines, summarize articles, or generate exam question ideas, but always check accuracy against original sources and your notes. Don't let AI write student-facing materials without careful editing and citation.
Never use AI to fabricate data, field observations, or references. When writing grant proposals or manuscripts, verify facts and maintain confidentiality for student data. Document AI use in methods or acknowledgments when it affects research or assessment.
Curiosity plus clear communication: being able to turn complex ethnographic findings into an understandable story for students and reviewers. That includes demonstrating when teaching — showing techniques or field methods in class.
Also, grant-writing and publishing are critical. A great professor writes clear grant proposals and manuscripts, mentors students, and keeps up with developments in the field by reviewing journals and attending conferences.