Last Updated on December 28, 2022
Archaeology is the study of past human life, from the stone age to the 21st century, and everything in-between. Archaeologists are interested in every aspect of this history. But what does an archaeologist actually do? And what kind of jobs can you get with an archaeology degree?
What can you do with an Archaeology degree? Archaeology is one of the more difficult degrees to get but also one of the most interesting. Archaeologists have a lot to learn and must be able to focus on analyzing things, pieces of work, artifacts, etc. What jobs can you get with an archaeology degree? In this article we’ll examine some of the possible careers for archaeologists, outline a typical career path and share tips based on my personal experience.
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An archaeology degree can lead you directly into a variety of jobs within the heritage sector and you’ll also be valued by local government employers
types of jobs in archaeology
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
- Academic researcher
- Archaeologist
- Conservator
- Heritage manager
- Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer
- Museum education officer
- Museum/gallery curator
- Museum/gallery exhibitions officer
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
- Archivist
- Cartographer
- Higher education lecturer
- Records manager
- Social researcher
- Tourism officer
Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don’t restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.
Take a few minutes to answer the Job Match quiz and find out what careers would suit you.
careers similar to archaeology
Some employers of archaeologists will expect you to have experience in related areas so look for suitable opportunities. By doing this you’ll also show your commitment and genuine interest in the career.
Consider volunteering as a digger or check out opportunities with local museums and galleries and heritage organisations.
Volunteer work will introduce you to the demands of working outdoors, in all weather conditions. It’s an excellent way of demonstrating your physical fitness and resilience, as well as making sure the work is something you’ll enjoy as a career. Volunteering is also great for networking and making useful contacts.
jobs after archaeology degree
Typical employers
Employers of archaeologists include:
- archaeological contractors
- independent archaeological consultants
- local government
- national heritage agencies
- private museums and charities
- university archaeology departments.
In addition, you can look for opportunities in the area of rescue archaeology. This can also be known as commercial, contract, compliance, preventive or salvage archaeology, and it takes place before any building work or land development.
archeology degree online
Skills for your CV
During your degree, you’ll develop a mix of subject-specific and technical skills:
- applying theoretical and scientific principles and concepts to archaeological problems
- field work, post-excavation and laboratory techniques
- applying statistical and numerical techniques to process archaeological data
- interpretation of spatial data.
An archaeology course also equips you with skills to:
- work as a team member or leader through field and project work
- form structured arguments supported by evidence
- use various IT packages
- prepare and give oral presentations for different audiences
- retrieve information to produce written reports
- work methodically and accurately
- demonstrate attention to detail.
Further Study
You can explore a range of specialist areas, such as human osteology and palaeopathology, as well as related subjects, like geophysics. A PhD is often necessary if you want to pursue a career in archaeological research or academia.
Improve your career prospects and keep your skills and knowledge up to date with distance learning and short courses. These are available through professional organisations, such as the:
- Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA)
- Council for British Archaeology (CBA)
Archaeology graduates also pursue courses of professional training in law, teaching, nursing and environmental health.
What do archaeology graduates do
Social and humanities scientist is the most popular role for archaeology graduates working in the UK, with 14% engaged in this type of work.
| Destination | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Employed | 50.7 |
| Further study | 22.9 |
| Working and studying | 9 |
| Unemployed | 7.3 |
| Other | 10.1 |
Graduate destinations for archaeology
| Type of work | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Science | 18 |
| Retail, catering and bar staff | 17.3 |
| Secretarial and numerical clerks | 11.9 |
| Business, HR and finance | 9.5 |
| Other | 43.3 |
