by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Cultural Anthropology covers Cultural Anthropology. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of Culture And The Relationship Of Culture To Other Aspects Of Social Life. Includes Instruction In Cultural Anthropology, Anthropological Theory, Enthnography, Linguistics, And Quantitative And Qualitative Research Methods. Examples: [Cultural Anthropology], [Cultural And Social Anthropology], [Socio-Cultural Anthropology]. Continue reading for the key facts every cultural anthropology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cultural anthropology programs.
In the U.S., cultural anthropology draws strong interest, with 79 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Cultural Anthropology Schools ranking analyzes these 13 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cultural anthropology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cultural anthropology programs later in this article.
Studies in Cultural Anthropology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cultural anthropology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a cultural anthropology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a cultural anthropology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cultural anthropology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 46 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 29 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to cultural anthropology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.7% |
| Master’s degree | 17.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cultural anthropology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying cultural anthropology prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to cultural anthropology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cultural anthropology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 718,152 | 6.5% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 262,916 | 6.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of cultural anthropology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,017 |
| 4 years | $40,107 |
| 5 years | $48,105 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for cultural anthropology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cultural anthropology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,345 |
With 13 different cultural anthropology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cultural anthropology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in cultural anthropology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Anthropology, General | 10,087 |
| Medical Anthropology | 347 |
| Anthropology, Other | 150 |
| Forensic Anthropology | 62 |
| Physical and Biological Anthropology | 43 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
