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Archaeologist

Also called epigraphist, archaeology analyst, excavation director

Archaeologists research and study past civilisations and settlements through collecting and inspecting material remains. They analyse and draw conclusions on a wide array of matters such as hierarchy systems, linguistics, culture, and politics based on the study of objects, structures, fossils, relics, and artifacts left behind by these peoples. Archaeologists utilise various interdisciplinary methods such as stratigraphy, typology, 3D analysis, mathematics, and modelling.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects33 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €1,800 (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals · ILO
  • Conducting research on the origin, development, structure, social patterns, organizations and interrelationships of human society
  • Tracing the origin and evolution of humanity through the study of changing characteristics and cultural and social institutions
  • Tracing the development of humanity through the material remains of its past, such as dwellings, temples, tools, pottery, coins, weapons or sculpture
  • Studying physical and climatic aspects of areas and regions, and correlating these findings with economic, social and cultural activities
  • Developing theories, models and methods to interpret and describe social phenomena
  • Evaluating the outcome of political decisions concerning social policy
  • Analysing and evaluating social data
  • Advising on the practical application of findings in the formulation of economic and social policies for population groups and regions, and for the development of markets
  • Preparing scholarly papers and reports
Mentor individualsPublish academic researchCommunicate with a non-scientific audienceIntegrate gender dimension in researchPromote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities+ 26 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Anthropologists and Archeologists"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social and cultural professionals in the EU
5.41m6.54m7.02m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
354,000 new jobs 1,872,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social and cultural professionals33
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals, 10 a surplus.
Sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,800 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in history and archaeology is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social and cultural professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 87%Vocational 6%General secondary 5%Basic schooling 2%
Field that teaches it
History and archaeology
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Arts and humanities graduates in a matching job
52% in the EU

1,154 institutions in the EU offer arts and humanities bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.48 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Analysing and evaluating social data0.61
Advising on the practical application of findings in the formulation of economic and social policies for population groups and regions, and for the development of markets0.56
Conducting research on the origin, development, structure, social patterns, organizations and interrelationships of human society0.56
Studying physical and climatic aspects of areas and regions, and correlating these findings with economic, social and cultural activities0.55
Preparing scholarly papers and reports0.54
Developing theories, models and methods to interpret and describe social phenomena0.46
Tracing the origin and evolution of humanity through the study of changing characteristics and cultural and social institutions0.45
Evaluating the outcome of political decisions concerning social policy0.37
Tracing the development of humanity through the material remains of its past, such as dwellings, temples, tools, pottery, coins, weapons or sculpture0.21

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).