Career Opportunities in Anthropology
An AA and AA-T Degree in Anthropology enables students to pursue graduate studies if they choose a teaching, research, or field career in Anthropology. It is also a good preparation for anyone who chooses a career that requires a cross-cultural perspective and sensitivity to other cultures (education, medical fields, business, law, law enforcement, administration, management, politics), a good understanding of humans' interaction with their physical and cultural environment (human ecology, environmental science), and/or a good understanding of evolutionary processes (medical and pharmaceutical research).
Salaries
Anthropologists have a high pay potential as their work varies greatly based on the type of position, employment and experience. It is a very stable field and anthropologists can find jobs in almost all fields. They can work for private agencies, corporate sectors, businesses, individual clients and others.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for anthropologists are expected to increase at a rate of 10% from 2018 to 2028, with a 2020 median annual salary of $74,670.
- The top 10 percent earned an average of $110,000.
- The best-paid 25 percent made $85,230 per year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $49,020.
- Federal government offers some of the highest salaries for anthropologists, averaging $85,000 per year.
- California is the state with the highest employment level for anthropologists.
Job Satisfaction
Average Americans work well into their 60s, so workers might as well have a job that's enjoyable and a career that's fulfilling. A job with a low stress level, good work-life balance and solid prospects to improve; get promoted and earn a higher salary would make many employees happy. Anthropologists’ job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility as follows:
Upward Mobility: Opportunities for advancements and salary is Average
Stress Level: Work environment and complexities of the job's responsibilities is Below Average
Flexibility: Alternative working schedule and work life balance is Average
