Anthropology degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in anthropology earn a median $46,120 four years after finishing, across 186 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in anthropology and archeology earn $50,375, $11,674 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is other managers (3%).
Median across 186 colleges; middle half $41,767–$53,038.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $31,024–$73,321. 2,144 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Anthropology And Archeology"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$14,737/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs anthropology graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in anthropology and archeology actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Managers | 3% | — | — | — | — |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 3% | $64,170 | -0.4% | — | — |
| Human Resources Workers | 3% | $76,700 | +6.1% | — | — |
| Other Social Scientists | 2% | — | — | — | — |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2% | $44,770 | -5.3% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Retail Salespersons | 2% | $35,410 | -0.3% | No formal educational credential | EC |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 2% | $47,540 | -6.0% | High school diploma or equivalent | CES |
| Management Analysts | 2% | $101,860 | +10.1% | Bachelor's degree | CIE |
These 8 jobs account for 18% of employed graduates: people with this degree spread across many kinds of work.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Anthropology earnings by state
Two views of pay: recent graduates of the state's colleges four years out (College Scorecard), and everyone ages 25-34 living in the state with this field of degree (Census). States show a figure only with at least 3 colleges or 100 survey respondents.
| State | Graduates, 4 yrs (colleges) | Ages 25-34 (respondents) |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,741 (4) | — |
| California | $50,850 (23) | $56,213 (451) |
| Colorado | $51,715 (5) | — |
| Connecticut | $54,907 (5) | — |
| Florida | $43,537 (6) | $38,580 (107) |
| Georgia | $46,960 (6) | — |
| Illinois | $50,177 (9) | — |
| Indiana | $43,539 (4) | — |
| Iowa | $42,549 (3) | — |
| Massachusetts | $46,714 (6) | — |
| Michigan | $42,796 (7) | — |
| Missouri | $44,874 (4) | — |
| New Hampshire | $51,100 (3) | — |
| New Jersey | $56,168 (4) | — |
| New York | $53,196 (13) | $58,094 (167) |
| North Carolina | $44,228 (9) | — |
| Ohio | $44,327 (10) | — |
| Oregon | $45,184 (4) | — |
| Pennsylvania | $46,328 (7) | — |
| Tennessee | $41,767 (3) | — |
| Texas | $42,530 (10) | $56,213 (128) |
| Utah | $38,051 (3) | — |
| Virginia | $51,811 (3) | — |
| Washington | $47,396 (4) | — |
| Wisconsin | $47,811 (3) | — |
College Scorecard field of study (median of each college's graduates); Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; EducationGuide calculations.
Colleges where anthropology graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 12 in Florida, 10 in Virginia, 45 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-BerkeleyCA | $64,359 | $12,949 |
| 2 | Sonoma State UniversityCA | $62,674 | $19,249 |
| 3 | San Francisco State UniversityCA | $61,300 | $17,250 |
| 4 | James Madison UniversityVA | $60,841 | $20,500 |
| 5 | University of California-San DiegoCA | $56,982 | $13,958 |
| 6 | University of California-DavisCA | $56,836 | $15,000 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA | $56,238 | $19,500 |
| 8 | University of California-Los AngelesCA | $54,905 | $15,000 |
| 9 | California State University-FullertonCA | $54,092 | $14,404 |
| 10 | San Diego State UniversityCA | $53,991 | $13,099 |
| 11 | University of California-Santa CruzCA | $52,315 | $17,875 |
| 12 | California State University-Channel IslandsCA | $51,951 | $20,914 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Anthropology degree questions
How much do Anthropology graduates make?
Anthropology graduates earn a median $46,120 four years after finishing, across 186 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $41,767 to $53,038; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in anthropology and archeology, the median is $50,375 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Anthropology degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in anthropology and archeology earn a median $50,375: $11,674 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $14,737 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Anthropology graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in anthropology and archeology, the most common jobs are other managers (3%), elementary and middle school teachers (3%), human resources workers (3%).
How much do Anthropology graduates earn in Florida?
Across 6 Florida colleges reporting, Anthropology graduates earn a median $43,537 four years after graduating; at ages 25-34, Floridians with this field of degree earn $38,580.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Anthropology degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/anthropology.