Career comparison
Anthropology Professor vs. Archaeologist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Anthropology professors earn more at the median ($99,650 vs. $70,770), while archaeologists usually get to work faster (Bachelor’s plus field school; master’s for leadership of training). Anthropology professors teach how humans and cultures have developed across time and place. Archaeologists uncover and study artifacts and sites to learn about past human life.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Anthropology Professor | Archaeologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $99,650 | $70,770 ($34.02/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $57,840 – $171,310 | $49,050 – $108,060 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.6% (about as fast as average) | +6.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s | Bachelor’s plus field school; master’s for leadership |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in anthropology | RPA |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, museums and field sites around the world.. | Archaeologists work outdoors at sites and in labs and offices.. |
What each job does
Anthropology Professor
- Teach anthropology courses
- Lead field schools
- Conduct fieldwork
- Analyze artifacts or interviews
- Mentor students
Archaeologist
- Survey sites
- Excavate
- Record finds
- Analyze artifacts
- Write reports
How they’re similar
Both careers involve travel, working independently, working outdoors, and high-pay. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as cultural sensitivity and patience.
Which should you choose?
Choose anthropology professor if…
- I’m fascinated by cultures
- I want to do fieldwork
- I enjoy teaching
Choose archaeologist if…
- I love history
- I like fieldwork
- I’m patient
Still torn? Take the Anthropology Professor fit quiz and the Archaeologist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, anthropology professor or archaeologist?
Anthropology Professors earn more at the median: $99,650 versus $70,770 for archaeologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Archaeologists typically train faster (Bachelor’s plus field school; master’s for leadership) than anthropology professors (6–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects archaeologists to grow +6.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for anthropology professors.