Median Annual Wage: $59,280
Education: Doctoral degree (48%); Master's degree (42%); Bachelor's degree (9%)
Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)
Related Job Titles: Curator; Archaeologist; Project Director; Research Archaeologist; Associate Director; Director of Research Center; Principal Archaeologist
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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Archeologists.
More Life, Physical, and Social Science Careers
- Research, survey, or assess sites of past societies and cultures in search of answers to specific research questions.
- Write, present, and publish reports that record site history, methodology, and artifact analysis results, along with recommendations for conserving and interpreting findings.
- Describe artifacts' physical properties or attributes, such as the materials from which artifacts are made and their size, shape, function, and decoration.
- Present findings from archeological research to peers and the general public.
- Compare findings from one site with archeological data from other sites to find similarities or differences.
- Record the exact locations and conditions of artifacts uncovered in diggings or surveys, using drawings and photographs as necessary.
- Assess archeological sites for resource management, development, or conservation purposes and recommend methods for site protection.
- Create a grid of each site and draw and update maps of unit profiles, stratum surfaces, features, and findings.
- Collect artifacts made of stone, bone, metal, and other materials, placing them in bags and marking them to show where they were found.
- Consult site reports, existing artifacts, and topographic maps to identify archeological sites.
- Teach archeology at colleges and universities.
- Develop and test theories concerning the origin and development of past cultures.
- Lead field training sites and train field staff, students, and volunteers in excavation methods.
- Create artifact typologies to organize and make sense of past material cultures.
- Clean, restore, and preserve artifacts.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Archeologists.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- 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.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Source: O*NET OnLine information for Archeologists.