Archeologist Salary in the United States

How much does an Archeologist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Archeologist in the United States is $54,739 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, an Archeologist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $67,880
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,865 to $61,617
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,785
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View as table View as graph 25% $45,865 10% $37,785 90% $67,880 75% $61,617 $54,739 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Archeologist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $61,617 $5,135 $1,185 $30
Average $54,739 $4,562 $1,053 $26
25th Percentile $45,865 $3,822 $882 $22
Check out Archeologist Job Openings in the United States
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Local CDL

C.R. England - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Archeologist Salaries

An Archeologist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Archeologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Archeologist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $54,492
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $55,971
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $58,332
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $58,846
  • Expert (over 8 years): $59,154
Levels Salary
Entry Level Archeologist$54,492
Intermediate Level Archeologist$55,971
Senior Level Archeologist$58,332
Specialist Level Archeologist$58,846
Expert Level Archeologist$59,154
$54,492 0 yr
$55,971 < 2 yrs
$58,332 2-4 yrs
$58,846 5-8 yrs
$59,154 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Archeologists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $69,042
  • San Francisco: $68,286
  • Oakland: $66,847

What Skills Can Increase an Archeologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 18.81% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Cash Management (Mentioned in 1.55% Job Postings): Cash management refers to a broad area of finance involving the collection, handling, and usage of cash. It involves assessing market liquidity, cash flow, and investments. In banking, cash management, or treasury management, is a marketing term for certain services related to cash flow offered primarily to larger business customers. It may be used to describe all bank accounts (such as checking accounts) provided to businesses of a certain size, but it is more often used to describe specific services such as cash concentration, zero balance accounting, and clearing house facilities. Sometimes, private banking customers are given cash management services. Financial instruments involved in cash management include money market funds, treasury bills, and certificates of deposit.
  • Knowledge of Customers (Mentioned in 1.11% Job Postings): Collecting experience and insight information to understand the customers’ needs, wants, and aims.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 18.81%
Cash Management 1.55%
Knowledge of Customers 1.11%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Archeologist's salary.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Work Ethic: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Programming: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analysis
$61,307
12%
Work Ethic
$60,212
10%
Programming
$58,570
7%
Event Management
$58,023
6%
Presentation
$58,023
6%
Inventory Management
$57,476
5%
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Archeologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Archeologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Media and Retail & Wholesale sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Archeologist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Archeologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Archeologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Media$68,423$33.025%
Retail & Wholesale$57,476$28.05%

How Education impacts an Archeologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Archeologists enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Archeologist with a No Diploma is between $55,540 and $62,151).

Archeologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Archeologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 7.7%
High School 19.2%
Associates 15.4%
Bachelors 53.8%
Masters 3.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Archeologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Archeologist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Archeologist

Salaries for an Archeologist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $53,369 in 2023 to around $53,149 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Archeologist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Archeologist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$53,369
2024
$53,868
2025
$53,149
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $53,369
2024 $53,868
2025 $53,149
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Archeologist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Archeologist

Here are companies hiring for Archeologist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Archeologist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Archeologist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Archeologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Archeologist?

The Media industry offers the highest average compensation for Archeologist roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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