Anthropologist salary
From 41 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-3091: Anthropologists and Archeologists
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 55% of Anthropologist filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 23% since FY2021. From $60,000 in FY2021 to $73,500 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Anthropologist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 41 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Anthropologist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-3091, Anthropologists and Archeologists). The median base salary is $69,209, 44% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $61,812 and $80,413. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 55% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 55% of filings
Mid-level · 45% of filings
Senior · 0% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $66,300 | 18 |
| Level II · Qualified | $70,685 | 15 |
| Level III · Experienced | – | 0 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
What a Anthropologist does
Study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings. May study the way of life, language, or physical characteristics of people in various parts of the world. May engage in systematic recovery and examination of material evidence, such as tools or pottery remaining from past human cultures, in order to determine the history, customs, and living habits of earlier civilizations.
Typical tasks
- Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach or mentor undergraduate and graduate students in anthropology or archeology.
- Write about and present research findings for a variety of specialized and general audiences.
- Plan and direct research to characterize and compare the economic, demographic, health care, social, political, linguistic, and religious institutions of distinct cultural groups, communities, and organizations.
- Create data records for use in describing and analyzing social patterns and processes, using photography, videography, and audio recordings.
- Train others in the application of ethnographic research methods to solve problems in organizational effectiveness, communications, technology development, policy making, and program planning.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Anthropologists and Archeologists (19-3091.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Anthropologists and Archeologists), the median annual wage was $70,770 in May 2025, with 8,990 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $69,209, 2% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $56,160 | $49,050 |
| 25th percentile | $61,812 | $59,400 |
| Median | $69,209 | $70,770 |
| 75th percentile | $80,413 | $89,670 |
| 90th percentile | $88,188 | $108,060 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $56,160 |
| 25th | $61,812 |
| 50th (median) | $69,209 |
| 75th | $80,413 |
| 90th | $88,188 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | $60,000 | $54,500 | $77,147 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $60,000 | $55,351 | $70,000 | 15 |
| FY2023 | $68,559 | $55,685 | $81,100 | 24 |
| FY2024 | $64,584 | $57,170 | $70,750 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $68,640 | $58,000 | $76,754 | 29 |
| FY2026 | $73,500 | $68,289 | $84,788 | 12 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Anthropologist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Anthropologist jobs is $69,209 (41 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $61,812 and $80,413.
What does an entry-level Anthropologist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $66,300. Level I accounts for 55% of Anthropologist filings.
Do H-1B Anthropologists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($69,209) is 2% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($70,770, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.