Archaeology Degree in Tacoma, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Archaeology degree analysis for Tacoma, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Tacoma
Cost of Living
113
index (100 = avg)
Archaeology in Tacoma, WA Overview
Tacoma is one of Washington's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 23,456. Public tuition averages $10,637/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Tacoma is approximately $56,500.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$10,637/yr
Private Tuition
$52,153/yr
Room & Board
$13,707/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,864/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
60%
Archaeology Salary in Tacoma (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tacoma's cost of living index of 113 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Archaeology salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $68,000 senior level.Tacoma adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Archaeology ROI Calculator for Tacoma
Estimate your return on investment for a Archaeology degree using local Tacoma tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,637 | Private avg: $52,153
Tacoma avg aid: $8,864/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,376
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,950
vs HS diploma in Tacoma
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tacoma
$106,024
Lifetime earnings premium ($203,400) minus total education cost ($97,376)
Student Loan Payoff for Archaeology in Tacoma
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tacoma for Archaeology
University of Puget Sound
private
$56,156/yr
$224,624 total
Pacific Lutheran University
private
$48,150/yr
$192,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tacoma Community College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Archaeology in Tacoma
Tacoma offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Archaeology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tacoma Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Archaeology Job Titles
Archaeology in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Tacoma
International Relations
$57K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$57K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$57K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$57K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$57K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$50K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$57K starting · 5 yr ROI
Archaeology Degree in Tacoma — 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 Tacoma.