What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Anthropologists and Archeologists in the U.S. earn more than $70,770 a year — the middle 80% land between $49,050 and $108,060. About 8,990 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Anthropologists and Archeologists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$70,770typical pay / year
8,990people in this work
$108,060+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing5
Analyze human remains and artifacts
+Assess the human skeletal fragments and associated pottery from the west trench, record metric and…
Analyze human remains and artifacts
+Assess the human skeletal fragments and associated pottery from the west trench, record metric and pathological observations, photograph each element with scale, create a labelled catalogue entry for each specimen, and flag any samples needing radiocarbon dating by Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Study social and cultural issues
+Map the kinship and resource-sharing narratives from last month’s fieldnotes, code recurring themes across…
Study social and cultural issues
+Map the kinship and resource-sharing narratives from last month’s fieldnotes, code recurring themes across households, draft a 1,000-word analytic summary linking those themes to local ritual practice, and circulate to my supervisor by next Tuesday for feedback.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Collect information through interviews
+Transcribe the five recorded life-history interviews from village A, extract consent statements and core…
Collect information through interviews
+Transcribe the five recorded life-history interviews from village A, extract consent statements and core demographic details, produce anonymised interview summaries with verbatim excerpts, and compile a spreadsheet of coded topics for the ethics file by Friday evening.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptionsO*NET
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Examine archaeological remains and artifacts
+Catalogue the shard assemblage from square B12, measure rim and base diameters, photograph diagnostic pieces,…
Examine archaeological remains and artifacts
+Catalogue the shard assemblage from square B12, measure rim and base diameters, photograph diagnostic pieces, assign typological codes, and prepare a site report appendix that ties those types to seasonal occupation evidence for the excavation director by Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Analyze data, samples, and artifacts
+Integrate the biometrics, isotope results, and tool-wear scores from last season into one dataset, run…
Analyze data, samples, and artifacts
+Integrate the biometrics, isotope results, and tool-wear scores from last season into one dataset, run descriptive statistics to identify outliers, visualise age-sex distributions, and send a methods-ready dataset and figures to the lab manager before the grant deadline.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work20
Describe artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.
+Describe each artifact's material, precise dimensions, visible joins or tool marks, color and texture under…
Describe artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.
+Describe each artifact's material, precise dimensions, visible joins or tool marks, color and texture under natural light, presumed function based on form, and any decorative motifs with measurements and photographed scale for the catalogue entry.
The tools that do the workAdobe AcrobatAdobe PhotoshopO*NET
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Design and coordinate data collection
+Draft a fieldwork plan that lists target communities, sampling criteria, daily tasks for each researcher,…
Design and coordinate data collection
+Draft a fieldwork plan that lists target communities, sampling criteria, daily tasks for each researcher, consent procedures, required materials, and a two-week timetable with contingency days for refusals or weather disruptions.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Record and manage field observations
+Set up a single searchable ledger that logs date, location, participant IDs, observation type, verbatim…
Record and manage field observations
+Set up a single searchable ledger that logs date, location, participant IDs, observation type, verbatim notes, audio/photo file links, and a short analytic reflexive note for each entry so field teams can update on the go.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptions
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Advise organizations on cultural impacts
+Prepare a concise advisory memo for the NGO that summarises likely cultural impacts, stakeholder…
Advise organizations on cultural impacts
+Prepare a concise advisory memo for the NGO that summarises likely cultural impacts, stakeholder sensitivities, three mitigation options with trade-offs, and recommended language for community consultation meetings.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptions
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Connect findings with past environments
+Compare current ethnographic findings with historical settlement patterns and environmental data to argue…
Connect findings with past environments
+Compare current ethnographic findings with historical settlement patterns and environmental data to argue whether present practices are continuations, adaptations, or disruptions of past lifeways, citing specific examples.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Assess building sites for site preservation
+Survey the proposed build footprint and record visible features, artifact concentrations, erosion risks and…
Assess building sites for site preservation
+Survey the proposed build footprint and record visible features, artifact concentrations, erosion risks and community use patterns, then recommend preservation zones and low-impact construction methods for the planning authority.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
+Teach the second-year cultural anthropology seminar this term, prepare two lecture outlines and one graded…
Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
+Teach the second-year cultural anthropology seminar this term, prepare two lecture outlines and one graded assignment on ethnographic method, schedule weekly office hours on Thursdays 3–5pm, and email students the reading list and assessment rubric by next Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
+Survey the coastal excavation at Ridgewell, map visible features, assess threat from the proposed roadworks,…
Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
+Survey the coastal excavation at Ridgewell, map visible features, assess threat from the proposed roadworks, recommend three mitigation measures with estimated costs and a prioritised protection plan, and send the report to the county archaeologist by Friday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.
+Run a participatory action research cycle with the Eastside clinic staff next month: observe morning…
Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.
+Run a participatory action research cycle with the Eastside clinic staff next month: observe morning workflow, hold two co-design workshops to redesign the intake process, produce a practical protocol and training brief for staff, then review outcomes after six weeks.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
+Draft a research grant for the Cultural Memory Project: state objectives, literature gap, methodology with…
Write grant proposals to obtain funding for research.
+Draft a research grant for the Cultural Memory Project: state objectives, literature gap, methodology with fieldwork timeline, detailed budget for two years, CVs for PI and co-investigator, and submit the application package before the funder’s 15th September deadline.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Organize public exhibits and displays to promote public awareness of diverse and distinctive cultural traditions.
+Plan the travelling exhibit on River Valley traditions: select eight objects and five oral-history clips,…
Organize public exhibits and displays to promote public awareness of diverse and distinctive cultural traditions.
+Plan the travelling exhibit on River Valley traditions: select eight objects and five oral-history clips, write wall texts and labels, produce a loan and insurance checklist, and deliver the exhibit plan and budget to the museum curator by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAdobe InDesignO*NET
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Enhance the cultural sensitivity of elementary and secondary curricula and classroom interactions in collaboration with educators and teachers.
+Co-develop with Parkview Primary a culturally responsive unit for Year 6: map national curriculum links,…
Enhance the cultural sensitivity of elementary and secondary curricula and classroom interactions in collaboration with educators and teachers.
+Co-develop with Parkview Primary a culturally responsive unit for Year 6: map national curriculum links, produce three classroom activities, create teacher guidance on sensitive topics, and deliver the package and teacher workshop slides by the term start.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Excavate historical and archaeological sites
+Write a site report for the last excavation at Hollow Ridge detailing unit stratigraphy, artifact inventory…
Excavate historical and archaeological sites
+Write a site report for the last excavation at Hollow Ridge detailing unit stratigraphy, artifact inventory with provenience, a conservation priority list, and a safety log so the university archaeology office can review it tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Analyze how language affects social life
+Design and run a coding plan to analyse recorded conversations from ten households for speech acts that shape…
Analyze how language affects social life
+Design and run a coding plan to analyse recorded conversations from ten households for speech acts that shape social hierarchy, produce a codebook, intercoder reliability table, and a summary memo for the research team in two weeks.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft WordESCOWikipedia
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Conduct fieldwork in remote areas
+Plan and conduct three weeks of immersive fieldwork in West Timor villages starting June 5, living with…
Conduct fieldwork in remote areas
+Plan and conduct three weeks of immersive fieldwork in West Timor villages starting June 5, living with hosts, keeping daily participant-observation notes, recording 20 oral histories, and flagging any ethical or safety issues to the university supervisor immediately.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Draw and build on knowledge from sciences
+Synthesize findings from ethnography and comparative biology literature into a three‑page conceptual…
Draw and build on knowledge from sciences
+Synthesize findings from ethnography and comparative biology literature into a three‑page conceptual framework linking kinship, ecological constraints, and ritual practice, with citations and hypotheses ready for peer review by July 1.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptions
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Perform market research on cultural demand
+Design and run a mixed‑methods cultural demand survey for artisan textiles in Yogyakarta: eight focus groups,…
Perform market research on cultural demand
+Design and run a mixed‑methods cultural demand survey for artisan textiles in Yogyakarta: eight focus groups, 200 short questionnaires, coded consumption narratives, and a one‑page market brief for the local cooperative by August 15.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptions
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Research norms, values, and behavior of societies
+Map out norms, values, and everyday practices around food sharing in three urban neighbourhoods, collect 30…
Research norms, values, and behavior of societies
+Map out norms, values, and everyday practices around food sharing in three urban neighbourhoods, collect 30 hours of observation, 15 semi‑structured interviews, and produce a 2,500‑word analytic report on moral logics by September 1.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeWikipedia
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Examine human economic behavior
+Set up a study of bargaining and saving behaviour at two informal markets: record 120 transactions, conduct…
Examine human economic behavior
+Set up a study of bargaining and saving behaviour at two informal markets: record 120 transactions, conduct 40 short interviews with vendors and buyers, and deliver a dataset and 1,500‑word brief on informal credit practices by July 20.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Investigate diseases and their impacts on humans over time
+Investigate historical disease impacts by compiling 100 years of local burial records, 30 oral testimonies…
Investigate diseases and their impacts on humans over time
+Investigate historical disease impacts by compiling 100 years of local burial records, 30 oral testimonies about epidemics, and a chronology of health interventions, then write a 4,000‑word paper linking social change to mortality patterns for submission in three months.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISWikipedia
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses