What Does an Anthropologist Do? (Types and Jobs)

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Updated March 26, 2025

Anthropology is a broad field that encompasses many types of professions and studies. If you're interested in studying and learning more about human habits and development, you may want to pursue a career in anthropology. Learning about what anthropologists do, where they work and the different types of anthropology can help you determine if this field is right for you. In this article, we explore anthropology, including the subtypes and jobs available.

What does an anthropologist do?

Anthropologists are professionals who study the development of humans. They look at old and new cultures to form detailed explanations of how humans have grown and changed over time, how they interact with each other and how they may interact in the future. Anthropologists are important because they provide knowledge of how humanity has developed in the past and use that knowledge to plan for the future.Read more: Becoming an Anthropologist (With Steps)

Different types of anthropology

There are four major types of anthropology:

Archaeology

Archaeologists specialize in learning about humans in the past. They look at the history of different people, cities and other locations by examining sites where old societies existed. They look for objects left behind by older civilizations, such as pottery, buildings and ships, and use them to find out how the people used to live.Within this area of anthropology are several smaller ones that cover specific regions of the world or particular aspects of civilization, such as:

Bioarchaeology: This is the study of human remains to rediscover how cultures rose and fell.
Classical: Classical anthropologists study ancient cultures around the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea, such as ancient Greece.
Ethno-archaeology: These anthropologists study weapons, tools and animals to see how people used to live.
History: Historical anthropologists study modern cultures to see how people lived and worked.
Underwater: This is the use of special tools and skills to study shipwrecks and other locations in the sea to learn about cultures of those times.

Biological

Biological anthropology includes the study of modern human, primate and fossil biology to understand human evolution, genetics and adaptation. Some specific fields include:

Forensic anthropology: Forensic anthropologists use human remains in and around crime scenes to help detectives and police find suspects and determine causes of death.
Historical forensics: This involves using the remains of old cultures to learn about how humans lived in the past.

Linguistic

Linguistic anthropologists study the interactions between language, people and cities. They look at several aspects of language, including:

Languages from different cultures: This involves studying languages for similarities and differences.
Nonverbal: This includes the aspects of language and culture that are processed through vision and touch.
Phonetics: Anthropologists learn about the sounds languages make and where they form in the human body.
Verbal and written: Linguistic anthropologists could study how verbal and written languages interact and relate to each other.

Linguistic anthropology allows people to understand how language shapes communication in societies and how that affects other aspects, such as identity, religion and roles within society.

Sociocultural

Sociocultural anthropology focuses on modern-day cultures by looking at the institutions that comprise them. The goal of sociocultural anthropology is to compare different societies to understand the differences between them and how social change may affect the institutions of society.Read more: 11 Jobs That Use Anthropology Skills

Work environment for anthropologists

Anthropologists work in many institutions all over the world. While some work outdoors at dig sites or with detective and crime scene units, more work indoors, providing their knowledge and expertise to others. Anthropologists work in the following locations:

Businesses
Colleges and universities
Historic locations
Hospitals
Museums
Other countries
Police stations

Careers for anthropology majors

There are many jobs for anthropology majors and current anthropologists. Here are some jobs you could consider as an anthropology major:

1. Linguist

National average salary: $34,574 per yearPrimary duties: A linguist uses their knowledge of people and cultures to study languages and how they change over time. They also study old languages to see what the people of the past sounded and behaved like during those times. Some linguists study how children learn languages and help develop educational programs to support them.

2. Career counselor

National average salary: $45,844 per yearPrimary duties: A career counselor guides people through choosing careers, promotions and other career-related goals. They also help people recognize and highlight their skills during the job search process. Sociocultural anthropologists may enjoy roles in career counseling since they can use their cultural and societal knowledge to help others find jobs that fit their needs.

3. Interpreter

National average salary: $46,852 per yearPrimary duties: Using their knowledge of people and cultures, an interpreter translates ideas and spoken words from one language to another so that multiple people can have a conversation, even if they don't communicate in the same language. Some interpreters also help translate smaller pieces of written text. Interpreters need to be aware of different cultural concepts, idioms and colloquialisms to effectively translate them.

4. Public relations manager

National average salary: $62,530 per yearPrimary duties: A public relations manager uses their knowledge of people and demographics to connect a company's products and services to customers. They inform the public about a company's goals, create press releases and handle any concerns the public raises. PR managers could also help improve the company's image by reviewing consumer reports and feedback.

5. Professor

National average salary: $61,014 per yearPrimary duties: An anthropology professor teaches people about the specific skills, knowledge and resources they need to become an anthropologist. They instruct students in their specific field of anthropology by giving lectures, assigning work and administering exams. Many anthropology professors also write research and theoretical papers to contribute to the field while teaching.

6. Forensic anthropologist

National average salary: $62,410 per yearPrimary duties: A forensic anthropologist studies the remains of humans to find out how they lived and died. They travel to the burial site, extract remains and perform tests and analyses to prepare findings for interested parties. Forensic anthropologists often assist with crime investigations, though they can also study remains from prehistoric times.

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