Anthropology Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of human societies, cultures, and their development throughout history.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$58K
salary
ROI Payback
7 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
5%
rate
Anthropology Overview
Study of human societies, cultures, and their development throughout history.
Category
Social Sciences
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
58%
Enrollment Trend
declining
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
40%
Lifetime Premium
$200K
Female Graduates
62%
Anthropology Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,200
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,200
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$183,800
Lifetime earnings premium ($200,000) minus net degree cost ($16,200)
Anthropology Salary Progression
Common Anthropology Careers
Anthropologist
Museum Curator
Cultural Resource Manager
UX Researcher
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Anthropology
#1
Harvard
#2
University of Michigan
#3
UC Berkeley
#4
University of Chicago
#5
Columbia
Related Majors
Anthropology Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Anthropology Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for anthropology programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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