by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you wish to explore the vast and mysterious societies and structures of the past, Archeology could be the major for you! This multidisciplinary field involves the study of past people and culture. Students research artifacts and read primary source documents in order to broaden their knowledge of past civilizations.
Classes taught in this major are history, anthropology, foreign language, and art history. You will also take courses in subjects like archaeological field techniques, problems in archaeology, and the rise of civilization.
Studying Archeology covers Archeology. Continue reading for the important information every archeology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering archeology programs.
In the U.S., archeology draws strong interest, with 393 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Archeology Schools ranking analyzes these 62 schools to determine the best overall colleges for archeology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of archeology programs later in this article.
Studies in Archeology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations archeology graduates commonly enter.
Students who excel in this field tend to be problem solvers who enjoy finding the missing piece of a puzzle. The ideal learner is someone who is adventurous and curious, being willing try new things. Work in the field may involve travel to different countries. Although the work can be very exciting, parts of it will be tedious and involve bearing extreme temperatures at a dig site, carefully brushing dust off shards of pottery, and analyzing pieces of material under a microscope.
Students will require creative thinking, analytical skills and attention to detail when researching subjects and presenting information. Much of your time in college will be spent studying, researching and writing papers on your findings. You may have the chance to study abroad. This will provide excellent experience in learning the culture and history of another country first-hand.
Skills built by a archeology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a archeology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several archeology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 243 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 121 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to archeology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.1% |
| Master’s degree | 9.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in archeology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
In order to become an archeologist you will need to obtain your Ph.D. This is competitive field that involves a lot of time spent in research and in the field. Archeologists teach college classes or provide consulting services to governments and businesses. They are often found working for cultural resource management firms. Graduates who do not wish to pursue an advanced degree may find work as teachers, librarians, curators, or in other fields that require analytical and research skills.
Studying archeology can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to archeology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to archeology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Tour Guides and Escorts | 197,286 | -2.8% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of archeology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $28,059 |
| 4 years | $36,241 |
| 5 years | $44,033 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for archeology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers archeology 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 62 different archeology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased archeology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in archeology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Archeology | 393 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Economics | 45,628 |
| Political Science and Government | 44,942 |
| Sociology | 31,380 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,510 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 13,035 |
| Anthropology | 10,768 |
| Criminology | 10,365 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,105 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,942 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,343 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
