Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary
The median pay for a anthropologists and archeologists in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $47,750/year ($22.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $51,566 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,331/month, about 40.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). 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 New Orleans-Metairie
Pay for anthropologists and archeologists in New Orleans-Metairie runs about 33% below the U.S. median of $71K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,331/month, which is 41% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for anthropologists and archeologistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for anthropologists and archeologists in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $62K | $60K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $71K | $72K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $66K | $66K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $62K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level anthropologists and archeologists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $64K 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 New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a anthropologists and archeologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 41% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,331/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new anthropologists and archeologists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,512/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
Local pay runs 33% below the national median — $48K here vs. $71K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for anthropologists and archeologists?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $71K — that’s -33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $47,750 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,860, and experienced anthropologists and archeologists can clear $106,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,245/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 41% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $51,566 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.