The median annual wage of anthropologists and archeologists was $54,230 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,310, and the top 10 percent earned more than $89,440.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of anthropologists and archeologists in May 2010 were as follows:
| Federal executive branch | $70,800 |
| Management, scientific, and technical consulting services | 46,280 |
| Scientific research and development services | 45,370 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 44,280 |
Many anthropologists and archeologists in government, research and consulting firms, museums, and businesses work full-time schedules during regular business hours. When doing fieldwork, anthropologists and archeologists might be required to travel and work long hours.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition