Anthropologists

Career summary

#no alt titles from 2144 social scientists

#4/9/19 lh

Anthropologists are scientists who study people. They study the customs, values, and social patterns of different cultures and how they change over time.

They may study artifacts such as tools, pottery, and baskets from ancient cultures. They also study issues of existing cultures such as overpopulation.

Anthropologists use several different research methods. Some perform interviews with people individually or with a group of people. They may live in a society in order to observe and collect information. This is called participant observation.

Anthropologists may do their studies in an office setting or they may be out in the field doing hands-on research. Anthropologists write books or reports about their findings. They may also give talks about their findings to other researchers.

Anthropologists often have field assistants to help gather data. They may train assistants in field research and data gathering.

There are several types of anthropologists:

Physical anthropologists

Physical anthropologists look at the makeup of the human body. They look at physical differences between people in different cultures. They study how culture and biology influence one another. They may study skeletal remains and human fossils from ancient cultures to understand population demographics.

Cultural anthropologists

Cultural anthropologists study how people create societies, customs, and cultures. This may be in small villages or large urban areas. They often live in the society in order to gather data.

Linguistic anthropologists

Linguistic anthropologists study how humans communicate. They study languages as well as non-verbal communications to find out what social and cultural factors influence language.

Related careers

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Archeologists
• Curators
• Economists
• Geographers
• Historians
• Interpreters and Translators
• Medical Scientists
• Psychologists
• Social Science Research Assistants
• Sociologists
• University and College Teachers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to anthropologists.

• Plan and direct research to study religion, economics, mythology, and traditions of different cultures.
• Study the relationship between an individual and society.
• Study the relationship between language and culture.
• Collect information and make judgments about a culture through observation, interviews, and reviewing documents.
• Create different research methods, including individual and group interviews, consultations, and participant observation.
• Design data collection methods to manage field notes and observations.
• Gather and study artifacts and skeletal remains to find out about ancient cultures.
• Examine bodily traits and physical details of existing human types.
• Study growth patterns and aging in different human groups.
• Examine museum collections of human fossils to see how they fit into evolutionary theory.
• Write about and present research findings.
• Organize public exhibits and displays to share research findings.
• Advise government agencies and private groups about programs, plans, and policies and how they might impact the community.
• Train research assistants and students in research methods.
• Apply anthropological concepts to current problems in human relations, such as access to health care.

Common work activities

Anthropologists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Analyze data or information
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Process information
• Document and record information
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Think creatively
• Use computers
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Teach others
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Develop goals and strategies
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Schedule work and activities
• Coach others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Perform administrative tasks
• Evaluate information against standards
• Develop and build teams
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Guide, direct, and motivate others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, anthropologists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a medium level of social interaction. They communicate daily by telephone, e-mail, and in person.
• Give presentations and lectures on a weekly basis. Many anthropologists are also professors.
• Write letters and memos on a weekly basis.
• Often work as part of a team, such as a university department or a field study.
• Are somewhat responsible for the outcomes of work done by others.

Physical work conditions

• Often work indoors.
• May work outdoors when performing fieldwork. May live among other cultures to study and learn about them.
• Work close to others, such as when sharing office space.

Work performance

• Must be accurate and thorough in doing a job.
• Make decisions that affect others on a weekly basis. They rarely, if ever, consult a superior before deciding a course of action.
• Rarely consult someone before deciding their daily tasks and goals.
• Must meet strict weekly deadlines. This make may the work atmosphere somewhat competitive.

Hours/travel

• In general, work a set schedule. This does not apply when doing fieldwork.
• May travel to live among other cultures.
• May work part time or full time. College professors are most likely to work part time.
• Most work over 40 hours a week. This depends on fieldwork and workload associated with teaching at a college or university.

Physical demands

Anthropologists frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for anthropologists to be able to:

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for anthropologists to be able to:

• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

Skills and abilities

Anthropologists need to:

Communicate

• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken information.

Reason and problem solve

• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.
• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Anthropology

Other programs of study to consider

• African Studies
• American Studies
• Archeology
• Asian Studies
• Ethnic Studies
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Linguistics
• Museum Studies
• Native American Studies
• Near and Middle Eastern Studies
• Sociology

Training

To work as an anthropologist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have a master's degree in anthropology.

Education after high school

With a bachelor's degree in anthropology you can work as a research assistant. In general, you need at least a master's degree to conduct research. Some anthropologists have a doctorate (PhD). This enables them to work as a professor at a college or university. Some programs grant a master's degree in anthropology while you are studying for the PhD. Other programs separate the master's and PhD programs.

In anthropology you learn the origin, customs, and living habits of human cultures. Most anthropologists focus on one region of the world. You want to study as much about that region as possible while you are in college.

As a master's or doctoral student you specialize in an area of anthropology. Common areas of study are linguistics, physical anthropology, and biological anthropology. Many colleges offer programs in anthropology.

Work experience

Working as a research assistant is good experience for this field. Look for this kind of job when you are a college student.

Some students complete an internship while in school. This is important work experience that may help you find a job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anthropology
• Computer Applications
• Ethnic and Gender Studies
• Geography
• Psychology
• Sociology
• World Cultures
• World History

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers at universities prefer to hire anthropologists who have a doctoral degree (PhD). Some community colleges may hire graduates with a master's degree. Universities choose candidates based on their area of research and the quality of their published articles.

Costs to workers

Workers may have to pay for association dues, reference books and journals, and seminars or college classes to keep up with changes in the field.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Anthropologists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Social scientists tend to make more when they work for the federal government than when they work for a state government agency. In general, the more experience and education anthropologists have, the more money they earn. Some areas of the country pay more than others, but this depends on the cost of living in that area.

Anthropologists who work full time usually receive benefits. Common benefits include vacation, sick leave, health insurance, and a retirement plan. 

National wage information is not available specifically for anthropologists. However, they are part of the larger group of "anthropologists and archeologists." These figures do not include anthropologists who teach at colleges and universities.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Research and testing firms
• Federal and state government agencies
• Management, scientific, and technical consulting services

National outlook

Job growth is expected to be faster than average for Anthropologists. Companies will need to use anthropological research to understand the consumer demands of difference cultures and social groups. Anthropologists also will be needed to analyze markets, so businesses can better serve clients or target new customers.

The best job prospects will be for people who have advanced degrees.

Employment and outlook information is not available specifically for anthropologists. However, they are part of the larger group of "anthropologists and archeologists." These figures do not include anthropologists who teach at colleges and universities.

Other resources

American Anthropological Association 
2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 1301
Arlington, VA 22201
703.528.1902

American Association for Applied Linguistics 

American Association of Anatomists 
6120 Executive Boulevard, Suite 725
Rockville, MD 20852
301.634.7910

American Association of Physical Anthropologists 

American Folklore Society 
812.856.2379

Careers in Anthropology 

Linguistic Society of America 
522 21st St. NW, Suite 120
Washington, DC 20006-5012

National Academy of Sciences Interviews 

National Association for Ethnic Studies 
P.O. Box 842542
Richmond, Virginia 23284

National Association for the Practice of Anthropology 

National Association of Student Anthropologists 

Society for Applied Anthropolgy 
P.O. Box 2436
Oklahoma City, OK 73101-2436

References

Career cluster

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Anthropologists (19-3091.01) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupations

• Anthropologist (055.067-010) 
• Anthropologist, Physical (055.067-014) 
• Ethnologist (055.067-022) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Investigative/Artistic/Social

COPSystem

• Communication