Salary AI Book a Demo

Forensic Anthropologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Forensic Anthropologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Forensic Anthropologist in the United States is $55,734 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $64,887
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,198 to $60,525
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,337
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Forensic Anthropologist Salaries

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

How Do Forensic Anthropologist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Forensic Anthropologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $61,709.
  • California: $61,474.
  • Massachusetts: $60,655.

Top Paying Cities for Forensic Anthropologists

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: $70,297
  • San Francisco: $69,527
  • Oakland: $68,062

What Skills Can Increase a Forensic Anthropologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 2.97% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Automatic Control (Mentioned in 5.28% Job Postings): Automatic control is the maintenance of a desired value of a quantity or condition by measuring existing value, comparing it to the desired value and.
  • Service Quality (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Service quality is a measure of how an organization delivers its services compared to the expectations of its customers.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 2.97%
Automatic Control 5.28%
Service Quality 1.32%
See More Skills

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 a Forensic Anthropologist's salary.

  • Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Mechanical Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Teamwork $65,766
18%
Mechanical Engineering $65,766
18%
Project Management $62,979
13%
Get Latest Data

Forensic Anthropologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Forensic Anthropologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Construction and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Forensic Anthropologist positions in Business Services or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Forensic Anthropologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Forensic Anthropologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$64,094$31.015%
Healthcare$61,307$29.010%
Energy & Utilities$58,521$28.05%

How Education impacts a Forensic Anthropologist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Forensic Anthropologists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Forensic Anthropologist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $53,122 and $58,304).

Forensic Anthropologist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Forensic Anthropologist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 100.0%
High School 100.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Forensic Anthropologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Forensic Anthropologist'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 September 01, 2026
$48,198
Average $55,734/year
$60,525
$4,017
Average $4,644/month
$5,044
$927
Average $1,072/week
$1,164
$23
Average $27/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $60,525 $5,044 $1,164 $29
Average $55,734 $4,644 $1,072 $27
25th Percentile $48,198 $4,017 $927 $23

Most common benefits for Forensic Anthropologist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Forensic Anthropologist

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

Find Your Next Forensic Anthropologist Job

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

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Forensic Anthropologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Forensic Anthropologist?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Forensic Anthropologist roles, with salaries approximately 15% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst