Archeology graduates earn $41,748 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $30,375 and $55,121. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Archeology as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Social Sciences and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Archeology is a focused area of study within Social Sciences. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $41,748 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 77 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 339 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$26,804
Median Earnings · 4yr
$41,748
Colleges Offering
77
Graduates / Year
339
Avg Net Price / yr
$22,388
How Much Do Archeology Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Archeology, a typical graduate earns $41,748, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $30,375 and $55,121, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $26,804 at one year out to $41,748 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$41,748
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$40,591
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Archeology graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$30,37525th pct.
$41,748Median
$55,12175th pct.
Is the Cost Worth It?
At median 4-year earnings of $41,748 and an estimated $89,552 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 7.6 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 53 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 339 students who complete Archeology programs each year, the majority (75%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
75%
Bachelor's75%
Master's17%
Associate's3%
What Can You Do With an Archeology Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Archeology graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Anthropology and Archeology Teachers pay the most at $99,650/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses in anthropology or archeology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Advise students on academic and vocational curricula, career issues, and laboratory and field research.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as research methods, urban anthropology, and language and culture.
Study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings. May study the way of life, language, or physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. May engage in systematic recovery and examination of material evidence, such as tools or pottery remaining from past human cultures, in order to determine the history, customs, and living habits of earlier civilizations.
Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
Top Colleges for Archeology
Not sure where to study Archeology? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Archeology graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Social Sciences Programs
Archeology is not the only path through Social Sciences: 12 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Archeology program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Archeology carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $26,804 at graduation to $41,748 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +6.0% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $41,748 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Long earnings breakevenAt median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 7.6 years.
Archeology Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Archeology graduates earn?
$41,748 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $30,375 and $55,121, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Archeology degree?
$26,804 in the first year out. That grows to $41,748 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with an Archeology degree?
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $99,650 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an Archeology program take?
Four years of full-time study for an Archeology bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Archeology?
77 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is an Archeology degree worth it?
$41,748 median earnings four years out against $22,388 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Archeology and Social Sciences?
Archeology is the narrower of the two: Social Sciences covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Archeology-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Archeology graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Archeology graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Archeology graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.3% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Anthropologist & Archaeologist is among the strongest-growth roles at +6.0%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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