Anthropologists and Archeologists pay in California

$77,230avg. a year
$37.13 an hour · 2,060 employed

Anthropologists and Archeologists in California earn an average of $77,230 a year. That is $1,610 (2%) more than the U.S. average of $75,620. The best-paying metro area is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $88,170.

$72,240Median pay
$37.13Average hourly
+3%Avg. pay since 2020
#13Of 45 states

Top-paying California metro areas

Average pay for anthropologists and archeologists by metro area. Swipe to see all 9.

1200 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$88,170
$42.39 an hour
290 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$81,330
$39.10 an hour
3350 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$80,790
$38.84 an hour
440 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$78,270
$37.63 an hour
5230 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$73,840
$35.50 an hour
640 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$73,790
$35.48 an hour
7540 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$72,160
$34.69 an hour
860 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$72,100
$34.66 an hour
9110 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$71,260
$34.26 an hour

Why people trust JobPayFacts

Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
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Anthropologists and Archeologists pay in California, charted

Pay over time

California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian

Where California anthropologists and archeologists work

Employment by metro area, May 2025

Average pay by state

May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $68k$68k–$74k$74k–$77k$77k+California

California vs. neighbors

Average pay, May 2025
AreaAvg. payHourly
United States$75,620$36.35
California$77,230$37.13
Oregon$89,050$42.81
Arizona$73,980$35.57
Nevada$73,840$35.50

Questions and answers

How much do anthropologists and archeologists make in California?

The average is $77,230 a year, and the median is $72,240. That is $1,610 (2%) more than the U.S. average of $75,620.

What is the hourly wage in California?

$37.13 an hour on average; the median is $34.73.

Where in California do they earn the most?

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ($88,170), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($81,330). The lowest average among 9 metro areas with data is Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($71,260).

How does California rank?

California ranks #13 of 45 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.

Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 19-3091. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national anthropologists and archeologists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.