Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We're a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that's critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.
Your Opportunity
Stantec is currently hiring an Archaeology Technician for field projects in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Your Key Responsibilities
+ Utilizing a variety of field methodologies, including archaeological survey, testing, excavation, surface collection, and monitoring.
+ Recording and evaluating soils using color (Munsell), texture, and inclusions; Orienteering using a compass, USGS topographic maps, plan maps, GPS units, iPads, and aerial photography.
+ Experience with GPS is an asset.
+ Assist with setting up a site grid, datum, and excavations units; Mapping site plans and individual shovel tests, units, and features in plan and profile.
+ Identifying historic and prehistoric artifacts following standard collection procedures.
+ Identifying cultural features.
+ Cleaning and preparing site surfaces for mapping and photography.
+ Serving as laboratory assistant when work is available indoors.
**Qualifications**
Your Capabilities and Credentials
+ Knowledge of Phase I, II, and III archaeological excavations/assessments.
+ Ability and willingness to work under varied weather conditions.
+ Ability to walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours through sometimes rugged terrain and ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds is required.
+ Industry-specific safety training certificates is an asset.
+ Valid driver's license required and good driving record.
+ Prior to employment with Stantec this position will require the successful completion of a background check, along with drug and alcohol screening.
+ Extensive travel required.
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in archaeology/anthropology or closely related field
At least 1 season of a field school or supervised field experience.
Archaeological field experience in the Mid-Atlantic
_This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice._
_This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice._
Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's' talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.
**Primary Location** : United States-Maryland-Laurel
**Job** : Archaeology Technician/Technologist
**Organization** : BC-2028 Environmental Services-US Maryland
**Employee Status** : Temporary
**Job Level** : Entry Level
**Travel** : Yes, 25 % of the Time
**Schedule** : Part-time
**Job Posting** : Sep 26, 2022, 8:09:48 AM
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. EEO including Disability/Protected Veterans
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How to hire an archaeological technician
Archaeological technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring archaeological technicians in the United States:
- In the United States, the median cost per hire an archaeological technician is $1,633.
- It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
- Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
- On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new archaeological technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.
How to hire an archaeological technician, step by step
To hire an archaeological technician, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an archaeological technician:
Here's a step-by-step archaeological technician hiring guide:
- Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
- Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
- Step 3: Make a budget
- Step 4: Write an archaeological technician job description
- Step 5: Post your job
- Step 6: Interview candidates
- Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new archaeological technician
- Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
What does an archaeological technician do?
The archaeological technician is someone who operates all the necessary equipment in an archeological dig. The archeological technician will provide all of the equipment and tools needed for excavation and maintain it to reduce its wear and tear. Tools commonly carried by an archeological technician are digging tools, metal detectors, GPS equipment, and other miscellaneous articles needed for excavation. The archeological technician must have a solid background in archeology or a degree of the same nature in the humanities and social sciences.
Post an archaeological technician job for free, promote it for a fee
Identify your hiring needs
First, determine the employments status of the archaeological technician you need to hire. Certain archaeological technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.
Determine employee vs contractor statusIs the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?Hiring the perfect archaeological technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.
This list presents archaeological technician salaries for various positions.
Type of Archaeological Technician Description Hourly rate Archaeological Technician Environmental science and protection technicians monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, including those affecting public health. In addition, they work to ensure that environmental violations are prevented. $13-21 Laboratory Analyst A Laboratory Analyst helps conduct experiments, run laboratory tests, and analyze results. They compile and record data for the documentation needed for testing and report preparation. $14-29 Environmental Services Supervisor Environmental services supervisors direct and administer a healthcare facility's housekeeping program to maintain sanitation and occupational health. They help departments in charge of the cleanup, sanitation, pest control, housekeeping, and laundry... Show more $14-25 Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:- GPS
- GIS
- Excavations
- Resource Management
- Data Collection
- Data Entry
- Preservation ACT
- Historic Sites
- Archaeological Survey
- Archaeological Sites
- Munsell
- Data Recovery
- Pedestrian Survey
- Test Pits
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.
- Work with compass, GPS, aerial photos, and topographical maps to survey a corridor for the client.
- Perform trouble-shooting of excavations as required.
Make a budget
Including a salary range in your archaeological technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An archaeological technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.
For example, the average salary for an archaeological technician in Oklahoma may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level archaeological technician usually earns less than a senior-level archaeological technician. Additionally, an archaeological technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.
Average archaeological technician salary
$35,787yearly
$17.21 hourly rateEntry-level archaeological technician salary$28,000 yearly salaryUpdated December 17, 2025Average archaeological technician salary by state
Rank State Avg. salary Hourly rate 1 Oregon $42,559 $20 2 California $41,542 $20 3 Texas $41,324 $20 4 New Jersey $40,651 $20 5 Washington $39,924 $19 6 Colorado $39,597 $19 7 Minnesota $37,867 $18 8 Utah $37,754 $18 9 Wisconsin $37,160 $18 10 Maryland $36,756 $18 11 Illinois $35,538 $17 12 Louisiana $35,270 $17 13 North Carolina $34,818 $17 14 Arizona $34,410 $17 15 Ohio $33,495 $16 16 Oklahoma $31,480 $15 17 Indiana $31,321 $15 18 Florida $29,951 $14 Average archaeological technician salary by company
Rank Company Average salary Hourly rate Job openings 1 TRC Companies $37,755 $18.15 23 2 Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises $37,371 $17.97 3 University of Illinois Springfield $37,276 $17.92 4 Environmental Consulting & Technology $36,613 $17.60 4 5 Stantec $36,355 $17.48 158 6 Forest Manufacturing Co $35,799 $17.21 7 AECOM $35,366 $17.00 21 8 Tetra Tech $35,068 $16.86 5 9 Kelly Services $34,856 $16.76 10 Epsilon Systems $34,515 $16.59 11 Prince George’s County Trap & Skeet Center $32,077 $15.42 1 Writing an archaeological technician job description
An archaeological technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an archaeological technician job description:
Archaeological technician job description example
Post your job
To find archaeological technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any archaeological technicians they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level archaeological technicians with the right educational background.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
- Post your archaeological technician job on Zippia to find and recruit archaeological technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
During your first interview to recruit archaeological technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.
You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new archaeological technician
Once you've found the archaeological technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.
It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new archaeological technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an archaeological technician?
Before you start to hire archaeological technicians, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire archaeological technicians pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.
You can expect to pay around $35,787 per year for an archaeological technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for archaeological technicians in the US typically range between $13 and $21 an hour.
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Updated December 17, 2025