How much does a anthropology professor make?
Answer: A typical anthropology professor in the United States makes $99,650 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 5,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Anthropology professor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $57,840 | $99,650 | $171,310 | about 5,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $128,370 | about 630 |
| New York | $99,500 | about 670 |
Why does pay differ?
In the US, pay changes with experience, the kind and size of college, and its location. Full-time and part-time jobs can pay differently, and large universities often mix teaching with research while community colleges focus more on teaching.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a anthropology professor do?
Teach courses in anthropology or archeology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What's a typical day like?
A professor may lead a class discussion about culture, grade papers, and meet students during office hours. Between classes, they may plan lessons, read new research, or work on a field study.
How to get this job
In the US, study anthropology in college and usually earn a PhD; some community colleges accept a master’s. Graduate research and fieldwork are useful; there is no set entry age or general teacher-license step.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out.
Did you know?
At SMU, anthropology students use 3D-printed copies of 4,000-year-old clay tablets; some are smaller than a credit card and once recorded grain, animals, and work.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Educational Instruction and Library jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/print/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/25-1061.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- americananthro.org/careers/career-paths-and-education/
- blog.smu.edu/anthropology/2026/05/01/cuneiform-in-the-classroom-abel-and-boulang
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY