Archaeologist Jobs in the United States

Archaeology Jobs Overview

Do you wish your life was more like “Indiana Jones” and less like “The Office”? While archaeologist jobs are a bit less dramatic than Hollywood depicts, you can find plenty of travel adventures as an archaeologist, typically a month or two a year if you work in the field.

Archaeologists who do fieldwork manage archaeological sites both during and after excavations. They recover, preserve, and analyze human remains and artifacts, unearthing new knowledge about how our ancestors lived. Archaeologists also spend a lot of time in the lab analyzing samples, as well as behind the desk recording data and writing reports.

Archaeologists can also work with culture resource management, which involves preserving historical sites during private or public development projects. If you want a more stable work environment, you can also put your archaeology degree to good use as a university professor or museum curator.

Also consider searching for other jobs in social science, for example:

• anthropologist jobs
• history jobs
• sociology jobs

Education and Skills for Jobs in Archaeology

Archaeologists usually need a master’s degree in anthropology or archaeology. You can get a job assisting an archaeologist in the field with a bachelor’s degree, working as a field technician, research assistant, or laboratory technician. To lead major fieldwork or to work abroad you usually need a Ph.D.

You’ll need excellent analytical and organizational skills to record and analyze data, as well as good communication skills to present your findings.

If you want to do fieldwork you should be in good physical health. You’ll also need experience before you can get a full-time job. You can complete an internship or work as a research assistant during your summer breaks. Try applying to volunteer for the U.S. Forest Service’s Passport in Time Program or looking into opportunities offered by your college or university.

Many schools also require a fieldwork class to complete your major, either at your university or another one. There are several associations that offer field school. Archaeologists often specialize in a time period, so it’s ideal to consider that when you choose your field school projects.

You can learn more about field school opportunities here:

• Archaeological Institute of America
• The Institute for Field Research
• American Anthropological Association
• The Register of Professional Archaeologists

Update Your Archaeology Resume

Time to dust off your resume? We have plenty of resume samples you can analyze to get tips on how to update yours. Don’t forget to give the same attention to your cover letter.

For a job as an archaeologist, a variety of hard skills are essential, such as the ability to use survey equipment, computer software, radar, GIS mapping, and 3D scanning. These will depend on the job, so make sure to target your application to the specific job listing by highlighting your most relevant skills in your resume and cover letter.

Interviewing for Archaeologist Jobs

The last hurdle before a job offer is the interview. Whether it’s in person, over the phone, or virtually, make sure to prepare both for common interview questions and for how to present yourself in the best light. These are some examples of potential archaeologist interview questions:

• How do you feel about working in the field for long periods of time?
• What would be your dream field project?
• Tell me about a time you were surprised by the outcome of an artifact analysis.

How Much Do Archaeology Jobs Pay?

The median salary for archaeologist jobs is $54,653. Use Monster’s salary tools to find out how much you could make in your location.

Uncover the Latest Archaeology Job Opportunities on Monster

Dig deeper into your search for archaeology jobs by creating a Monster profile. Get notifications of new openings for jobs in archaeology, upload your resume, and get career advice to your inbox with our free services for job seekers. You can also use your profile to apply directly to jobs you find here.