Career comparison
Anthropology Professor vs. Cultural Studies Professor
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. $85,020), while anthropology professors usually get to work faster (6–8 years after a bachelor’s of training). Anthropology professors teach how humans and cultures have developed across time and place. Cultural studies professors teach the history, culture and politics of regions and communities.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Anthropology Professor | Cultural Studies Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $99,650 | $85,020 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $57,840 – $171,310 | $52,070 – $160,420 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.6% (about as fast as average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 1,000 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in anthropology | Ph.D. |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, museums and field sites around the world.. | Faculty work in classrooms, offices, archives and communities.. |
What each job does
Anthropology Professor
- Teach anthropology courses
- Lead field schools
- Conduct fieldwork
- Analyze artifacts or interviews
- Mentor students
Cultural Studies Professor
- Teach interdisciplinary courses
- Develop curricula
- Mentor students
- Conduct research
- Publish articles and books
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, working with people, creative work, and high-pay. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose anthropology professor if…
- I’m fascinated by cultures
- I want to do fieldwork
- I enjoy teaching
Choose cultural studies professor if…
- I care about culture and identity
- I enjoy discussion
- I like research and writing
Still torn? Take the Anthropology Professor fit quiz and the Cultural Studies Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, anthropology professor or cultural studies professor?
Anthropology Professors earn more at the median: $99,650 versus $85,020 for cultural studies professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Anthropology Professors typically train faster (6–8 years after a bachelor’s) than cultural studies professors (6–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects cultural studies professors to grow +2.7% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for anthropology professors.