Annual Salary
£24,000 to £40,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Maths or STEM or go back to all job sectors
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Archaeologists learn about the past by studying written records, collecting oral histories and excavating objects and remains at historical sites.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; flexibly
There will be
2.4% more Archaeologist jobs in 2027.
As an archaeologist, you could:
You could work in an office, at a university, in a museum or visit sites.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you may spend nights away from home.
You can get into this job through:
Most professional archaeologists have a degree and many also have a postgraduate qualification.
You can do a degree in archaeology or a related subject, like:
You can search for higher education archaeology courses on British Archaeological Jobs and Resources.
After completing a first degree, you could take a postgraduate course and specialise in a particular field.
Examples include:osteoarchaeology - studying human remains; marine archaeology - investigating coastal and underwater sites; digital archaeology - creating visualisations of ruins and finds
You'll usually need:
You could apply to do an Archaeological Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, with an archaeological consultancy, university department or heritage organisation. This could lead to a position like archaeological site assistant or finds technician.
With further training, you could become a professional archaeologist.
You could also complete an Archaeological Specialist Level 7 Postgraduate Degree Apprenticeship.
The degree apprenticeship typically takes 3 years to complete and combines learning on-the-job with university study.
Employers will assess your skills, experience and qualifications when you apply, and usually require a relevant first degree.
Competition for courses and jobs is very strong. It's essential that you get practical experience.
Local and regional archaeological associations run volunteer fieldwork programmes for all age groups.
These offer you the chance to get hands-on experience, doing tasks like:
You can find volunteering opportunities through the Council for British Archaeology.
There are a lot of different specialisms in archaeology and skills you have from another career can be useful, for example:computer-aided design (CAD); illustration; photography; geographical information systems (GIS)
You can join the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists for professional development training and networking opportunities.
You'll find more details about how to become an archaeologist from the:Council for British Archaeology; Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
With experience, you could:progress to a senior role like project supervisor or site director; specialise in a particular type of archaeology or historical period; teach on university courses and carry out research; advise local authorities and construction firms about the archaeological impact of new developments.
You can also register for Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Member status, which leads to professional recognition of your skills and expertise.
You'll need: