How To Become An Archaeological Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an archaeological technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Prof. Amy Margaris

An archaeological technician assists archaeologists in various field activities to find and identify artifacts and historical remains. Also known as field archaeologists, they use surveying tools such as global positioning systems or GPS and other reference materials to locate possible excavation sites.

Aiming to further the knowledge in human history and civilization, an archaeological technician spends most of their workhours outdoors such as mountains and rough terrains. They conduct interviews, recover data, and collect aerial photographs in search of shreds of evidence about archeological remains. After marking the sites on the map, they report these locations to the project director for approval.

They accomplish field forms and take part in site mitigation. They ensure that samples are properly handled and labeled.

An aspiring archaeological technician needs a bachelor's degree in anthropology, archaeology, or other related fields. Completing training programs and having prior field experience provide candidates better chances for this position. The job also requires physical stamina and a deep understanding of diverse cultures. Knowledge in cultural resource management is also a great advantage.

What general advice would you give to an archaeological technician?

Prof. Amy Margaris

Associate Professor, Oberlin College

Be open to traveling and stay flexible. Most importantly, make and keep connections with others in the field because this will help you learn about job and internship opportunities that will help you build your resume.

ScoreArchaeological TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,787

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.06%

Asian 9.46%

Black or African American 8.84%

Hispanic or Latino 16.91%

Unknown 6.01%

White 57.71%

Gender

female 48.32%

male 51.68%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an archaeological technician

Explore archaeological technician education requirements

Most common archaeological technician degrees

Bachelor's

78.1 %

Master's

11.1 %

Associate

6.9 %

Start to develop specific archaeological technician skills

Skills	Percentages
GPS	25.22%
GIS	9.19%
Excavations	7.21%
Resource Management	5.92%
Data Collection	5.51%

Complete relevant archaeological technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New archaeological technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an archaeological technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real archaeological technician resumes.

Research archaeological technician duties and responsibilities

Manage daily RCRA inspections and mechanical, electrical, and electronic equipment preventive/corrective maintenance procedures.
Enter field data into standard archaeological forms and create archaeological site maps using a GPS unit and ArcGIS software.
Utilize GIS analysis to assist with locating and mitigating archaeological sites.
Clear atv trails and place cattle guards for atv use.

Prepare your archaeological technician resume

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