Archaeology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Archaeology is a rigorous academic discipline dedicated to uncovering and interpreting human history through the scientific examination of material remains. By analyzing artifacts, human remains, and environmental context, scholars reconstruct the lifeways, cultural developments, and societal transformations of past civilizations—both extinct and contemporary. This field bridges the gap between the tangible evidence of the past and the broader narratives of human evolution and cultural diversity.
- Archaeological Theory: Explores the conceptual frameworks guiding how researchers interpret material culture, including models of cultural change, social organization, and human behavior across time.
- Field Methods: Covers techniques for site surveying, excavation protocols, stratigraphic recording, and spatial analysis essential for accurate data collection in real-world archaeological settings.
- Dating Methods: Introduces scientific approaches such as radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, and thermoluminescence to establish chronological frameworks for archaeological deposits.
- Conservation and Museum Studies: Focuses on the preservation of artifacts and sites, as well as the ethical and practical aspects of curation, exhibition, and public engagement in museum environments.
- Cultural and Physical Evolution: Investigates long-term patterns in human development, including the emergence of complex societies, technological innovation, and biological adaptations across populations.
- Study of Selected Past Cultures: Provides in-depth exploration of specific civilizations and historical periods, such as Mesopotamia, the Maya, ancient Egypt, or prehistoric Europe, through focused case studies and comparative analysis.
Archaeology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Archaeology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Archaeology degrees, including Managers, All Other, Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary and Anthropologists and Archeologists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 644,310 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1061 | $95,770 | $51,380 - $169,090 | 5,260 | N/A |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists 19-3091 | $64,910 | $44,510 - $104,510 | 8,070 | $31.21 |
Archaeology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $72,460 in Tennessee to $170,310 in Delaware—a 135% difference. The highest-paying states include Delaware, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 644,310 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Archaeology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 62 institutions offering Archaeology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Archaeology is found at University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (25 graduates), College of Charleston (CofC) (20 graduates), Western Washington University (WWU) (20 graduates), University of Wisconsin (UWL), La Crosse (18 graduates), and Pima Community College (PCC) (16 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 393 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| College of Charleston (CofC) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | cofc.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWL) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Public | uwlax.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Other Award
|
16 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Master's
|
15 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
13 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Palomar College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Other Award
|
11 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
11 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Monmouth University |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | West Long Branch, New Jersey | Private | monmouth.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| Sweet Briar College (SBC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Sweet Briar, Virginia | Private | sbc.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| The College of Wooster |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Wooster, Ohio | Private | wooster.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Saint Mary's College of California |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Moraga, California | Private | stmarys-ca.edu |
| Wheaton College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Wheaton, Illinois | Private | wheaton.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Normandale Community College |
Other Award
|
4 | Bloomington, Minnesota | Public | normandale.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Potsdam, New York | Public | potsdam.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Other Award
|
4 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Moorpark College |
Associate's
|
3 | Moorpark, California | Public | moorparkcollege.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Hamilton College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Clinton, New York | Private | hamilton.edu |
| University of Akron |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Willamette University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Salem, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Center for Advanced Studies On Puerto Rico and the Caribbean (CEAPRC) |
Master's
|
3 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | ceaprc.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Cypress College |
Other Award
|
2 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Master's
|
2 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| Southern Adventist University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Collegedale, Tennessee | Private | southern.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| La Sierra University |
Master's
|
1 | Riverside, California | Private | lasierra.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Other Award
|
1 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| Lycoming College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Private | lycoming.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Other Award
|
1 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | uwp.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Archaeology programs
How much can I earn with a Archaeology degree?
Salaries for Archaeology graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $95,770. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Delaware average $170,310 compared to $72,460 in Tennessee. Approximately 644,310 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Archaeology programs?
Currently 62 accredited institutions offer Archaeology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (25 graduates), College of Charleston (CofC) (20 graduates), and Western Washington University (WWU) (20 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Archaeology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 338 in 2010 to 393 in 2023-24. This represents a 16% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Archaeology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary, and Anthropologists and Archeologists. Related occupations employ approximately 644,310 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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