What is an Anthropologist?
Anthropologist Job Description Research, evaluate, and establish public policy concerning the origins of humans; their physical, social, linguistic, and cultural development; and their behavior, as well as the cultures, organizations, and institutions they have created.
List of Anthropologist Job Duties
- Build geographic information systems (GIS) to record, analyze, and cartographically represent the distribution of languages, cultural and natural resources, land use, and settlement patterns of specific populations.
- Examine museum collections of hominid fossils to classify anatomical and physiological variations and to determine how they fit into evolutionary theory.
- Observe the production, distribution, and consumption of food to identify and mitigate threats to food security.
- Teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology.
- Analyze and characterize user experiences and institutional settings to assist consumer product developers, technology developers, and software engineers with the design of innovative products and services.
- Enhance the cultural sensitivity of elementary and secondary curricula and classroom interactions in collaboration with educators and teachers.
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Anthropologist Skills
When polled, Anthropologists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Types of Anthropologist Jobs
- Scientist
- Egyptologist
- Ethnologist
- Evaluation Specialist
- American Indian Policy Specialist
Anthropologist Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 7,600 jobs for Anthropologist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 3.9% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 300 new jobs for Anthropologist by 2026. The BLS estimates 700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Anthropologist are Washington, Nebraska, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Anthropologists Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Anthropologists is somewhere between $36,840 and $97,170.
Anthropologists who work in Massachusetts, Hawaii, or Idaho, make the highest salaries.
How much do Anthropologists make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $54,390 |
Arizona | $64,660 |
Arkansas | $58,240 |
California | $67,030 |
Colorado | $63,940 |
Florida | $54,130 |
Georgia | $67,550 |
Hawaii | $82,550 |
Idaho | $71,520 |
Illinois | $62,650 |
Kentucky | $59,740 |
Louisiana | $68,690 |
Maryland | $53,680 |
Massachusetts | $91,140 |
Missouri | $56,880 |
Montana | $62,690 |
Nebraska | $74,280 |
Nevada | $60,480 |
New Jersey | $64,950 |
New Mexico | $58,300 |
New York | $67,860 |
North Carolina | $63,690 |
North Dakota | $62,110 |
Ohio | $63,280 |
Oklahoma | $56,150 |
Oregon | $63,090 |
Pennsylvania | $70,770 |
South Carolina | $62,230 |
South Dakota | $52,340 |
Tennessee | $59,690 |
Texas | $71,590 |
Utah | $66,410 |
Virginia | $72,480 |
Washington | $74,300 |
West Virginia | $50,550 |
Wisconsin | $55,720 |
Wyoming | $67,400 |
What Tools do Anthropologists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Anthropologists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Data visualization software
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
How do I Become an Anthropologist?
What education or degrees do I need to become an Anthropologist?
What work experience do I need to become an Anthropologist?
Who Employs Anthropologists?
Below are examples of industries where Anthropologists work:
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Anthropologist might also be interested in the following careers:
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors
- English Language and Literature Professors
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Agricultural Sciences Professors
- Environmental Science Professors
Are you already one of the many Anthropologist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Deror avi via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license.
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