Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary
The median pay for a anthropologists and archeologists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $80,270/year ($38.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $82,269 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month, about 33.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $80K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About anthropologists and archeologists
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What this looks like in Durham-Chapel Hill
Durham-Chapel Hill sits well above the national pay line for anthropologists and archeologists, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $71K. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for anthropologists and archeologists in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $67K | $68K |
| Richmond | $80K | $82K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $59K | $59K |
| Knoxville | $61K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level anthropologists and archeologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Anthropologists and Archeologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Anthropologists and Archeologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121K | +71% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $95K | +34% | 40 |
| Connecticut | $91K | +29% | N/A |
| Alaska | $90K | +27% | 130 |
| Idaho | $89K | +25% | 170 |
| Oregon | $85K | +20% | 240 |
| Hawaii | $85K | +19% | 210 |
| Virginia | $80K | +13% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $80K | +13% | 130 |
| Montana | $79K | +12% | 80 |
| Wyoming | $76K | +8% | 80 |
| Alabama | $76K | +7% | 170 |
| Washington | $75K | +6% | 260 |
| Utah | $74K | +4% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $73K | +3% | 200 |
| California | $72K | +2% | 2,060 |
| Kentucky | $72K | +2% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $72K | +1% | 90 |
| Colorado | $69K | -3% | 250 |
| New Mexico | $68K | -4% | 230 |
| Texas | $68K | -4% | 430 |
| Iowa | $67K | -5% | 40 |
| New York | $67K | -5% | 120 |
| Missouri | $67K | -5% | 80 |
| New Jersey | $66K | -6% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $66K | -7% | 140 |
| Arizona | $65K | -8% | 500 |
| Michigan | $65K | -9% | N/A |
| Nevada | $64K | -9% | 230 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -10% | N/A |
| Indiana | $64K | -10% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -11% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -11% | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | -11% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $62K | -12% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | -14% | 40 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -15% | 160 |
| Illinois | $60K | -16% | 140 |
| Florida | $59K | -16% | 620 |
| Ohio | $59K | -16% | 70 |
| Georgia | $59K | -17% | 150 |
| West Virginia | $54K | -23% | 50 |
| Maryland | $54K | -23% | 220 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -33% | 110 |
| Kansas | $42K | -41% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track anthropologists and archeologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a anthropologists and archeologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 33.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for anthropologists and archeologists in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new anthropologists and archeologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,773/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is anthropologists and archeologist a high-paying job in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $80K here vs. $71K nationally.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for anthropologists and archeologists?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $71K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $80,270 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,890, and experienced anthropologists and archeologists can clear $116,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,104/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 33.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a anthropologists and archeologists salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median anthropologists and archeologists salary is worth about $82,269 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do anthropologists and archeologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.