Field Archaeologist Salary in the United States

How much does a Field Archaeologist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Field Archaeologist in the United States is $61,281 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $74,497
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,903 to $68,199
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,275

Key Factors That Influence Field Archaeologist Salaries

A Field Archaeologist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Field Archaeologist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Field Archaeologist'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): $59,303
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $60,700
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,720
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $65,468
  • Expert (over 8 years): $65,686
Levels Salary
Entry Level Field Archaeologist$59,303
Intermediate Level Field Archaeologist$60,700
Senior Level Field Archaeologist$63,720
Specialist Level Field Archaeologist$65,468
Expert Level Field Archaeologist$65,686

How Do Field Archaeologist 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 Field Archaeologists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $67,851.
  • California: $67,593.
  • Massachusetts: $66,693.

Top Paying Cities for Field Archaeologists

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: $77,294
  • San Francisco: $76,448
  • Oakland: $74,837

What Skills Can Increase a Field Archaeologist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 5.74% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • Adobe Illustrator (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Graphic designers use Illustrator to create vector graphics. You can produce logos, detailed illustrations, web page designs and many more.
  • Manufacturing Industry (Mentioned in 1.64% Job Postings): Applying the knowledge of MFG industry's concept, techniques, regulations and trends to diverse situations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 5.74%
Adobe Illustrator 1.64%
Manufacturing Industry 1.64%

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 Field Archaeologist's salary.

  • Design Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
  • Purchasing: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Adobe Illustrator: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Design Engineering $80,891
32%
Purchasing $76,602
25%
Adobe Illustrator $74,763
22%

Field Archaeologist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Field Archaeologist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 35% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the MFG Durable and Media sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Field Archaeologist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Field Archaeologist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Field Archaeologist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable$73,538$35.020%
Media$70,474$34.015%
Aerospace & Defense$68,635$33.012%
Chemicals$64,345$31.05%

Field Archaeologist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Field Archaeologist'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
$52,903
Average $61,281/year
$68,199
$4,409
Average $5,107/month
$5,683
$1,017
Average $1,178/week
$1,312
$25
Average $29/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $68,199 $5,683 $1,312 $33
Average $61,281 $5,107 $1,178 $29
25th Percentile $52,903 $4,409 $1,017 $25

Most common benefits for Field Archaeologist

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

Common company salaries for Field Archaeologist

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

Find Your Next Field Archaeologist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Field Archaeologist 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 Field Archaeologist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Field Archaeologist?

The MFG Durable industry offers the highest average compensation for Field Archaeologist roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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