Archaeology Degree in Oyster Bay, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Archaeology degree analysis for Oyster Bay, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.7 yrs
in Oyster Bay
Cost of Living
145
index (100 = avg)
Archaeology in Oyster Bay, NY Overview
Oyster Bay, New York (pop. 293,214) has 11 colleges offering Archaeology programs. The local cost of living index of 145 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,620/month. Although national enrollment in Archaeology has been declining, graduates with skills in Excavation and Artifact Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Oyster Bay is approximately $72,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,477/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,000/yr
Unemployment
3.9%
Graduation Rate
57%
Archaeology Salary in Oyster Bay (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oyster Bay's cost of living index of 145 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Archaeology salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Oyster Bay adjustment factor: 1.45x based on the local cost of living index.
Archaeology ROI Calculator for Oyster Bay
Estimate your return on investment for a Archaeology degree using local Oyster Bay tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $42,000
Oyster Bay avg aid: $8,000/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,708
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,750
vs HS diploma in Oyster Bay
ROI Payback Period
4.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oyster Bay
$158,292
Lifetime earnings premium ($261,000) minus total education cost ($102,708)
Student Loan Payoff for Archaeology in Oyster Bay
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oyster Bay for Archaeology
Oyster Bay State University
public
$10,019/yr
$40,076 total
University of Oyster Bay
public
$9,448/yr
$37,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Oyster Bay Community College
$5,924/yr
New York Technical College - Oyster Bay
$6,048/yr
Top Employers for Archaeology in Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Archaeology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oyster Bay Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Archaeology Job Titles
Archaeology in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$94K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$70K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Oyster Bay
International Relations
$73K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$70K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$73K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$73K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$73K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$73K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$64K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$73K starting · 5 yr ROI
Archaeology Degree in Oyster Bay — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Archaeology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Oyster Bay.