Anthropologist and Archeologist Salary
Anthropologists and Archeologists earn a median $70,770 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$70,770
$34.02 per hour
Range
$49,050 – $108,060
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
8,990
across the U.S.
Anthropologist and Archeologist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$58,617
per year · effective tax rate 17.2%
$4,885Monthly
$2,442Twice a month
$2,254Every 2 weeks
$28.18Hourly
- Federal income tax$6,739
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,388
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,026
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$58,617
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,050 | $23.58 | $41,592 |
| 25th percentile | $59,400 | $28.56 | $49,908 |
| Median (50th) | $70,770 | $34.02 | $58,617 |
| 75th percentile | $89,670 | $43.11 | $71,913 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,060 | $51.95 | $84,850 |
Best cities for anthropologists and archeologists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $65,240 | $51,745 | $45,564 | 540 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $65,240
Anthropologist and Archeologist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121,300 | $88,320 | $78,750 – $126,420 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $94,520 | $71,904 | $50,440 – $131,270 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $91,420 | $69,691 | $46,550 – $117,070 | — |
| Alaska | $89,810 | $72,011 | $62,550 – $130,270 | 130 |
| Idaho | $88,710 | $67,644 | $63,130 – $104,250 | 170 |
| Oregon | $84,970 | $62,001 | $63,130 – $119,570 | 240 |
| Hawaii | $84,530 | $63,403 | $60,530 – $143,840 | 210 |
| Virginia | $80,230 | $61,473 | $47,420 – $107,620 | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,660 | $62,425 | $49,750 – $99,560 | 130 |
| Montana | $79,420 | $61,576 | $60,900 – $110,190 | 80 |
| Wyoming | $76,400 | $62,577 | $40,070 – $100,420 | 80 |
| Alabama | $75,690 | $58,558 | $40,960 – $82,880 | 170 |
| Washington | $74,790 | $61,445 | $54,560 – $116,210 | 260 |
| Utah | $73,920 | $58,472 | $53,380 – $103,380 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $73,130 | $57,868 | $52,370 – $109,300 | 200 |
| California | $72,240 | $56,145 | $55,140 – $104,770 | 2,060 |
| Kentucky | $72,230 | $57,233 | $41,650 – $106,330 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $71,740 | $56,616 | $46,070 – $97,470 | 90 |
| Colorado | $68,620 | $54,793 | $42,300 – $116,060 | 250 |
| New Mexico | $68,180 | $54,756 | $47,840 – $98,530 | 230 |
| Texas | $67,700 | $56,457 | $57,340 – $109,270 | 430 |
| Iowa | $67,270 | $54,250 | $47,770 – $94,290 | 40 |
| New York | $67,220 | $53,086 | $40,110 – $114,880 | 120 |
| Missouri | $66,930 | $53,707 | $63,130 – $100,420 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $66,230 | $53,284 | $56,320 – $101,810 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $65,920 | $52,188 | $48,390 – $102,910 | 140 |
| Arizona | $65,290 | $53,217 | $49,500 – $105,060 | 500 |
| Michigan | $64,700 | $51,667 | $60,270 – $97,470 | — |
| Nevada | $64,390 | $53,917 | $55,320 – $99,640 | 230 |
| North Dakota | $63,830 | $53,467 | $46,730 – $87,310 | — |
| Indiana | $63,730 | $51,537 | $46,180 – $94,490 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $63,130 | $50,274 | $51,310 – $100,420 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $63,130 | $52,905 | $50,110 – $97,470 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $63,130 | $50,908 | $33,430 – $97,470 | 40 |
| Arkansas | $62,160 | $49,914 | $49,430 – $100,420 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $61,160 | $51,322 | $47,590 – $92,600 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $60,310 | $50,639 | $43,450 – $93,370 | 160 |
| Illinois | $59,560 | $47,233 | $50,280 – $90,660 | 140 |
| Florida | $59,270 | $49,803 | $44,660 – $95,180 | 620 |
| Ohio | $59,160 | $48,871 | $40,580 – $79,750 | 70 |
| Georgia | $58,990 | $47,140 | $45,750 – $99,030 | 150 |
| West Virginia | $54,340 | $44,129 | $37,020 – $106,330 | 50 |
| Maryland | $54,160 | $43,489 | $46,760 – $105,420 | 220 |
| Louisiana | $47,750 | $39,501 | $40,490 – $103,380 | 110 |
| Kansas | $41,870 | $34,286 | $36,400 – $63,130 | 60 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a anthropologist and archeologist make?
The national median salary for anthropologists and archeologists is $70,770 a year ($34.02 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,050 and the top 10% earn over $108,060. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays anthropologists and archeologists the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $121,300. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many anthropologists and archeologists are there in the U.S.?
About 8,990 people work as anthropologists and archeologists nationwide.