What Is an Archaeologist? (Job Duties and How To Become One)

Written by

Updated March 3, 2025

Archaeologists study artifacts to get a better understanding of historical societies. An archeologist can work on anything, from recent centuries to civilizations from thousands of years ago. Pursuing a career in this field provides you with the potential to participate in historical discoveries.In this article, we discuss the role of archaeologists, including what their duties are, how much they earn, their job outlook and the steps you might take to become one.

What is an archeologist?

An archeologist is an expert on history who gains expertise through experience with historical documents and artifacts. An archeologist can assist not only in identifying potential dig locations and the resulting excavations but also in interpreting any artifacts discovered during excavation. They then use this information in concert with existing knowledge and historical data to make discoveries about the artifact's time period.Related: 10 Popular History Degree Jobs

What does an archeologist do?

Archeologists are likely to have responsibilities both in the field as well as in a professional or academic setting. Common duties for an archeologist include:

Assessing aerial photography, geographical survey data and historical records to identify locations for potential dig sites
Overseeing and documenting the extraction of artifacts at dig sites to maintain an accurate record and reduce the chances of damage during excavation
Identifying items from the excavation, analyzing and dating them
Creating computer-generated assessments and simulations of excavated locations to create estimated examples of the historical structures and civilization
Managing staff during both the excavation work and the recording and analysis of artifacts
Collecting data into a database and performing analysis to further understanding of the area and cultures being studied
Writing reports, academic papers and presentations on discoveries to share information
Assessing developer planning applications to ensure that any proposed construction will not disrupt potentially valuable archeological sites
Developing scientific hypotheses based on analysis of data, then testing these theories through excavation, further research and analysis
Conducting interviews and coordinating with other experts in the region and time period being studied to improve the accuracy of any assessments and projections
Working in a museum or school setting, providing education about historical items and societies

Average salary and job outlook

Archeologists are generally full-time employees. On average, an archeologist earns $59,814 per year in the United States. Salaries can vary, depending on where an archeologist works, the type of work they do and the experience they have to offer.The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 6% employment growth for archaeologists in the decade between 2021 and 2031. This equals approximately 800 new jobs each year.Related: Archaeologist vs. Anthropologist: What's the Difference?

Where do archeologists work?

If you pursue a career as an archeologist, you have several options when seeking an employer. Potential work settings include:

Working on location at a dig site, overseeing and participating in the excavation. Dig locations can be scattered around the world, and such a position may require the archeologist to participate in a great deal of travel with extended stays at locations while the excavation is carried out.
At a university as an archeology professor. In this setting, a professor may have regular office hours in a personal or shared office in addition to their lecture hours when teaching students. Archeology professors may be full-time educators or can be full-time archeologists in another aspect and also teach classes on a part-time basis.
In a laboratory setting, performing analysis on recovered artifacts. Such work may involve working with machinery to better assess the recovered artifacts and examine them for any relevant information.
At a museum, verifying and analyzing items in the collection. An archeologist employed by a museum may also be tasked with assisting in the design of exhibits, describing of artifacts on display and producing scripts for tours and presentations for museum guests.
In an office, working for a regulatory body or a private company. Archeologists are commonly called on to assess the feasibility of a proposed excavation site where there are concerns about potential historical artifact disruption.

How to become an archeologist

To become an archeologist, aspiring professionals must ensure they meet the minimum requirements. If you're interested in a career in archeology, here is what you'll need to do:

1. Earn an undergraduate degree

Nearly any position in archeology requires applicants to hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree in archeology or a similar field of study, such as anthropology, history or linguistics. During your education, learn the skills you need to make professional assessments of historical artifacts and how to safely participate in an excavation without harming any of the artifacts. This education is crucial to verify that you can be trusted to participate in an archeological project, where error can result in the loss of valuable historical information and items.Related: How Many Credits Does It Take To Get a Bachelor's Degree?

2. Participate in a dig

Just because you enjoy the theory of archeology does not guarantee that the physical side of the job will be appealing. It is recommended that students participate in a real excavation during their studies, through an internship, fellowship or similar program. This provides valuable supervised experience and also allows you to assess your suitability to the field to ensure that it is the right career choice for you.

3. Earn an advanced degree

Although there is the potential to find entry-level employment in the field with a bachelor's degree, most archeologists opt to pursue a master's or Ph.D. before leaving school. Studies for an advanced degree provide a more thorough understanding of the field, allowing you to perform better as a professional. Higher degrees are often required for career advancement in the various fields an archeologist can enter, making a higher degree a soft requirement.Related: Key Differences Between Undergraduate and Graduate Study

4. Consider joining archeology associations

Archeology can be a competitive field, and any advantage you have over a competitor for an open position is useful. By joining a national or international association, you can demonstrate your commitment and value to a potential employer. Popular archeology associations include:

Archeological Institute of America (AIA): The world's oldest and largest archeological organization, the AIA has been in existence since 1879. It was formally charted by Congress in 1906 and oversees over 100 local societies in America, Canada and abroad.
Society for American Archeology (SAA): The SAA is an organization committed to advancing archeological research between both archeology professionals and the greater public. It serves as an advocacy and lobbying group to protect the interests of archeologists.

The connections you make with an association can help you find career opportunities, while the information you learn there better prepares you to excel in them.

5. Create your resume

A professional resume showcases your best qualifications to impress the hiring manager of any prospective employer. For competitive positions, your resume may be the only thing viewed before the first round of cuts are made.When writing out your prior work responsibilities, focus on duties that relate to archeology and the specific field in which you are looking to work. Experience as a teacher's assistant is more important on an application to work as an archeology professor, as opposed to working at a dig site, for example.Related: Resume vs. CV (Curriculum Vitae): Key Document Differences

Archeologist skills

Archeologists need a combination of technical and interpersonal skills. Depending on the field you work in when applying your archeology education, requirements can skew more to the technical side or more to relating and communicating with others. Important skills for archeologists to possess include:

Physical fitness: When working at an excavation site, an archeologist may need physical agility in order to perform actions such as digging in a squatting position or on unstable ground. Some dig sites may require the team to cross uneven or overgrown terrain in order to get to the location. They also need stamina for continued physical labor.
Attention to detail: Whether at a dig site carefully looking for and extracting artifacts or working in a lab to analyze and categorize them, an archeologist needs to be vigilant. The ability to observe all details, no matter how small, is crucial to success in the field.
Communication: The ability to communicate clearly is particularly important if working in an educational setting. Communication is also important at excavations to ensure that everyone follows the correct procedures, or when serving in an assessment role to accurately convey the results of your analysis to the relevant parties.
Historical knowledge: An archeologist relies on a deep understanding of the history of human civilization when carrying out professional duties. This is used not only to identify artifacts but also to accurately place them in the correct time period and correctly determine what they are and how they were used.
Inquisitive nature: Since archeology is a field driven by new discoveries, an archeologist benefits from being naturally inclined to investigate and seek out information about things they don't understand. Being inquisitive will keep your work interesting to you, which in turn makes it easier to give it your full attention in order to get the best results.
Leadership: An archeologist may be asked to serve as the leader in a variety of settings, including running an excavation, managing a research group or overseeing a museum exhibit. Leadership skills allow you to help employees perform at their best, improving the overall effectiveness of your entire work unit.
Teamwork: Archeologists are regularly tasked with working alongside others, whether out in the field or in a laboratory or office setting. Having a personality that works well in a team is key for an archeologist's success.
Technological skills: Much of a modern archeologist's work requires the use of computers and other technological devices. The increasing presence of digital tools has greatly increased the efficiency of work in many phases of an archeologist's job, and the ability to efficiently use this technology is required to operate as effectively as possible.

The information on this site is provided as a courtesy and for informational purposes only. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers

Archaeologists