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forensic anthropology

Types of Degrees forensic anthropology Majors Are Earning

People majoring in forensic anthropology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	25
Bachelor’s Degree	12
Master’s Degree	25

What forensic anthropology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for forensic anthropology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that forensic anthropology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing forensic anthropology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Law and Government — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a forensic anthropology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to forensic anthropology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, forensic anthropology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.5 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.2 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by forensic anthropology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft SharePoint	Document management software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for forensic anthropology graduates include:

• Compliance Director
• Chief Clerk
• Planning Coordinator
• Theater Manager
• Station Manager
• Recreation Facility Manager
• Digital Project Manager
• State Board of Nursing Educational Consultant
• Call Center Supervisor
• Service Director
• Property Utilization Officer
• Director of Entertainment
• Title Search Manager
• Environmental Control Administrator
• Irrigation District Manager

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to forensic anthropology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	46.3%
Doctoral degree	15.3%
Master’s degree	11.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.2%
High school diploma or equivalent	6.0%
Postsecondary certificate	4.2%
Some college courses	2.8%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.6%
Post-doctoral training	2.0%
Post-master’s certificate	1.7%
First professional degree	0.8%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in forensic anthropology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 75.8% of forensic anthropology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	47	75.8%
Men	15	24.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of forensic anthropology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	52	83.9%
Asian	2	3.2%
Hispanic or Latino	1	1.6%
Black or African American	2	3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	1.6%
Two or More Races	3	4.8%
International Students	1	1.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do forensic anthropology Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of forensic anthropology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$29,017
4 years	$40,107
5 years	$48,105

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $48,105 — roughly 66% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in forensic anthropology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, forensic anthropology graduates earn a median of $40,107 four years after completion — roughly 6% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Anthropology	45.02
Anthropology, General	45.0201
Anthropology, Other	45.0299
Cultural Anthropology	45.0204
Medical Anthropology	45.0203
Physical and Biological Anthropology	45.0202
Archeology	45.0301
Geography and Anthropology	45.1501
Sociology and Anthropology	45.1301

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.