Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary
The median pay for a anthropologists and archeologists in Knoxville, TN is $60,900/year ($29.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $65,788 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month, about 34.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $61K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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 Knoxville
Pay for anthropologists and archeologists in Knoxville runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $71K. Rent runs $1,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for anthropologists and archeologists in metros near Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $61K | $63K |
| Richmond | $80K | $82K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $67K | $68K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $59K | $59K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level anthropologists and archeologists (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $49K 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 |
| Wisconsin | $63K | -11% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -11% | 50 |
| 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 with published data
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 Knoxville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a anthropologists and archeologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 34.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new anthropologists and archeologists typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,607/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Knoxville?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $61K here vs. $71K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for anthropologists and archeologists?
Knoxville pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $71K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $60,900 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,450, and experienced anthropologists and archeologists can clear $92,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,248/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 34.6% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $65,788 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.