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Archaeological technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an archaeological technician. Archaeological technicians usually study anthropology, classical and ancient studies, or history. 78% of archaeological technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 638 real archaeological technician resumes to see exactly what archaeological technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for archaeological technicians are the Central Washington University and the Central Washington University.

There are also many online archaeological technician courses to help get the education required to be an archaeological technician.

What education do you need to become an archaeological technician?

What degree do you need to be an archaeological technician?

The most common degree for archaeological technicians is bachelor's degree, with 78% of archaeological technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 11% and master's degree degree at 7%.
  • Bachelor's, 78%
  • Master's, 11%
  • Associate, 7%
  • High School Diploma, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an archaeological technician?

You should major in anthropology to become an archaeological technician. 57% of archaeological technicians major in anthropology. Other common majors for an archaeological technician include classical and ancient studies and history.

Most common colleges for archaeological technicians

Archaeological technicians often get their degrees at Central Washington University, Humboldt State University, and University of Oregon. Here are the most common colleges for archaeological technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Archaeological technician common collegePercentages
Central Washington University9.09%
Humboldt State University7.95%
University of Oregon6.82%
Oregon State University5.68%
University of California - Davis5.68%

Best majors for archaeological technicians

RankMajorPercentages
1Anthropology57.2%
2Classical And Ancient Studies12.3%
3History8.7%
4Liberal Arts3.6%
5Geography2.1%

Best colleges for archaeological technicians

The best colleges for archaeological technicians are Harvard University, Vanderbilt University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

An archaeological technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for archaeological technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become archaeological technicians.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

In-state tuition

$55,453

Enrollment

4,312

3. Rice University

Houston, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$47,350

Enrollment

3,962

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

In-state tuition

$55,466

Enrollment

6,752

7. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

8. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

10. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$52,930

Enrollment

5,030

20 best online courses for archaeological technicians

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1. The Changing Landscape of Ancient Rome. Archaeology and History of the Palatine Hill

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Studying ancient - as well as medieval or modern - cities basically means telling local urban stories based on the reconstruction of changing landscapes through the centuries. Given the fragmentary nature of archaeological evidence, it is necessary to create new images that would give back the physical aspect of the urban landscape and that would bring it to life again. We are not just content with analyzing the many elements still visible of the ancient city. The connections between objects...

2. Roman Art and Archaeology

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The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the culture of ancient Rome beginning about 1000 BCE and ending with the so-called "Fall of Rome". We will look at some of the key people who played a role in Rome, from the time of the kings through the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. We will also focus on the city of Rome itself, as well as Rome's expansion through Italy, the Mediterranean, and beyond...

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6. Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals

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In this foundational Pharmacy Technician Career Training Specialization, students will take four courses to master the fundamentals of a career in pharmacy. The first two courses teach how to communicate and engage professionally in any healthcare setting and the necessary knowledge of human anatomy and physiology required for any medical role. Next, students dive into two pharmacy-related courses - Pharmacy Technician Essentials and Pharmacy Dosages & Prescriptions Essentials - to round out...

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Top 10 most affordable universities for archaeological technicians

The most affordable schools for archaeological technicians are University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and purdue university.

If the best universities for archaeological technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for archaeological technicians.

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

3. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

4. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

8. John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,270

Cost of attendance

14,177

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

10. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for archaeological technicians

The hardest universities for archaeological technicians to get into are Harvard University, Vanderbilt University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for archaeological technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for archaeological technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. Brown University

Providence, RI • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

6. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,488

7. Rice University

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

8. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

10. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for archaeological technicians

The easiest schools for archaeological technicians to get into are Saint Joseph's College of Maine, saint martin's university, and linfield college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an archaeological technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for archaeological technicians.

1. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

2. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

3. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,117

4. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,172

5. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Newark

Newark, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

63%

SAT average

1,105

6. Longwood University

Farmville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,065

7. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,073

8. University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,050

9. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

10. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

Average archaeological technician salary by education level

Archaeological technicians with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $38,992 annually. With a Associate degree, archaeological technicians earn a median annual income of $36,855 compared to $36,011 for archaeological technicians with an Bachelor's degree.
Archaeological technician education levelArchaeological technician salary
Master's Degree$38,992
High School Diploma or Less$35,204
Bachelor's Degree$36,011
Some College/ Associate Degree$36,855

Archaeological technician education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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