Archaeology Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of past human cultures through excavation and analysis of material remains.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$55K
salary
ROI Payback
7.5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
5%
rate
Archaeology Overview
Study of past human cultures through excavation and analysis of material remains.
Category
Social Sciences
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
58%
Enrollment Trend
declining
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
38%
Lifetime Premium
$180K
Female Graduates
50%
Archaeology 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
$163,800
Lifetime earnings premium ($180,000) minus net degree cost ($16,200)
Archaeology Salary Progression
Common Archaeology Careers
Archaeologist
CRM Specialist
Museum Curator
Field Director
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Archaeology
#1
University of Michigan
#2
University of Chicago
#3
Harvard
#4
UC Berkeley
#5
Brown
Related Majors
Archaeology 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.
Archaeology Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for archaeology programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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