Job Description - Archaeologist:
An archaeologist's work involves recovering and examining evidence that can include tools, cave paintings, the ruins of buildings and pottery in order to learn about earlier civilizations.
**See also Anthropologist: Career Profile
Employment Facts - Archaeologist:
There were 6,000 archaeologists and anthropologists* employed in 2008.
Educational Requirements - Archaeologist:
Archaeologists who want to work in a college or university must have a Ph.D., but a master's degree is usually required for jobs in other settings.
Other Requirements - Archaeologist:
Archaeologists must be able to communicate well in writing and orally since they must often present their work to others. Because they typically work on projects for extended periods of time, perseverance is a necessary trait. Archaeologists must also be able to think logically and methodically.
Advancement Opportunities - Archaeologist:
A high rate of publication can lead to career advancement for an archaeologist.
Job Outlook - Archaeologist:
The job outlook for archaeologists is excellent. Job growth is expected to be faster than average. This occupation is also projected to experience faster growth, through 2018, than most other occupations that also require at least a master's degree.
Earnings - Archaeologist:
Archaeologist and anthropologists* earned a median annual salary of $53,460 in 2009.
Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much an Archaeologist currently earns in your city.
A Day in an Archaeologist's Life:
On a typical day an archaeologist's tasks might include:
- writing and publishing reports and presenting them to professional peers
- comparing archaeological findings among different sites
- answering research questions by surveying or assessing sites of past societies and cultures
- collecting artifacts from sites
- studying excavated objects and structures in order to identify, date, and authenticate them and ultimately interpret their significance
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Social Scientists, Other, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos315.htm (visited March 25, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Archeologist, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/19-3091.02 (visited July 1, 2010).
*Note: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics combines wage and employment data for Anthropologist and Archaeologist.
