What You Need to Know About 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.
Life As an Anthropologist
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Collaborate with economic development planners to decide on the implementation of proposed development policies, plans, and programs based on culturally institutionalized barriers and facilitating circumstances.
- Conduct participatory action research in communities and organizations to assess how work is done and to design work systems, technologies, and environments.
- Build and use text-based database management systems to support the analysis of detailed first-hand observational records, or field notes.
- Organize public exhibits and displays to promote public awareness of diverse and distinctive cultural traditions.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
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What Every Anthropologist Should Know
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
- Physical Anthropologist
- Scientist
- Political Anthropologist
- Forensic Anthropologist
- Project Evaluator
Job Demand for Anthropologists
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.
Anthropologist Average Salary
The average yearly salary of an Anthropologist ranges between $36,840 and $97,170.

Anthropologists who work in Massachusetts, Hawaii, or Idaho, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Anthropologists 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Anthropologists
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?
Education needed to be an Anthropologist:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Anthropologists Are Employed

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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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