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.
Archaeological technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real archaeological technician resumes:
- 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.
- Conduct analysis of re-cover artifact and spatial data using GIS.
- Collect, organize and labele artifacts and data during and after excavations for site and laboratory study.
- Assist HAZWOPER technicians with logistical support for operations on project operations including research of facilities and vendors need for project completion.
- Used STPs to survey propose pipeline area and gain experience using Terrasync software on Trimble device.
Archaeological technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Archaeological Technicians are proficient in GPS, GIS, and Excavations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Archaeological Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- GPS, 25%
Worked with compass, GPS, aerial photos, and topographical maps to survey a corridor for the client.
- GIS, 9%
Conducted analysis of recovered artifact and spatial data using GIS.
- Excavations, 7%
Fort Hunter investigations focused on assisting with site mapping and conducting excavations and features and artifact identification for temporal evidence.
- Resource Management, 6%
Achieved permanent position in the Cultural Resource Management Department after demonstrating consistently strong performance as undergraduate intern.
- Data Collection, 6%
Planned project logistics to ensure efficient project execution and quality of data collection.
- Data Entry, 5%
Conducted data entry and retrieval using the archaeological databases.
"gps," "gis," and "excavations" are among the most common skills that archaeological technicians use at work. You can find even more archaeological technician responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for an archaeological technician to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what archaeological technicians do because "environmental science and protection technicians need to work well and collaborate with others, because they often work with scientists and other technicians." Additionally, an archaeological technician resume shows how archaeological technicians use interpersonal skills: "used interpersonal and communication skills with patients. "
Analytical skills. Another essential skill to perform archaeological technician duties is analytical skills. Archaeological technicians responsibilities require that "environmental science and protection technicians must carry out a wide range of laboratory and field tests, and their results must be accurate and precise." Archaeological technicians also use analytical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "re-created field maps into an autocad database. "
Communication skills. archaeological technicians are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to archaeological technician responsibilities, because "environmental science and protection technicians must have good listening and writing skills, because they must follow precise directions for sample collection and communicate their results effectively in written reports." An archaeological technician resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "construct remediation systems using mechanical, electrical prints and verbal communication. "
The three companies that hire the most archaeological technicians are:
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Compare different archaeological technicians
Archaeological technician vs. 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between archaeological technicians and laboratory analyst. For instance, archaeological technician responsibilities require skills such as "gps," "gis," "excavations," and "resource management." Whereas a laboratory analyst is skilled in "test methods," "lab equipment," "lims," and "laboratory procedures." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Laboratory analysts really shine in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $47,806. Comparatively, archaeological technicians tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $36,988.laboratory analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than archaeological technicians. In fact, laboratory analysts are 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Archaeological technician vs. 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. These professionals should be experts in health, sanitation, and safety policies and regulations. They oversee the staff of the department and their working conditions. They inspect the ventilation, air conditioning, and heating. Also, they take charge of equipment and supplies, quality assurance and control, and prepare budgets.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that archaeological technician responsibilities requires skills like "gps," "gis," "excavations," and "resource management." But an environmental services supervisor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "environmental services," "cleanliness," and "customer service."
Environmental services supervisors may earn a higher salary than archaeological technicians, but environmental services supervisors earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $43,387. On the other hand, archaeological technicians receive higher pay in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $36,988.environmental services supervisors earn lower levels of education than archaeological technicians in general. They're 10.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Archaeological technician vs. Environmental assistant
An environmental assistant is primarily in charge of performing daily administrative support tasks in an office. Their responsibilities include preparing and processing documentation, coordinating services and procedures, monitoring the inventory of supplies, participating in the procurement procedures, answering calls and correspondence, and maintaining records of all transactions. They may also perform managerial duties if necessary. Furthermore, as an environmental assistant, it is essential to keep an active communication line with staff, coordinating every step of the way while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an archaeological technician is likely to be skilled in "excavations," "resource management," "data entry," and "preservation act," while a typical environmental assistant is skilled in "patients," "patient rooms," "cleanliness," and "patient care."
Environmental assistants earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $45,535. Comparatively, archaeological technicians have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $36,988.Most environmental assistants achieve a lower degree level compared to archaeological technicians. For example, they're 7.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Archaeological technician vs. Installer/lead technician
Even though a few skill sets overlap between archaeological technicians and installer/lead technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an archaeological technician might have more use for skills like "gps," "gis," "excavations," and "resource management." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of installer/lead technicians require skills like "hvac," "ladders," "technical support," and "security systems. "
The average resume of installer/lead technicians showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to archaeological technicians. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 8.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.2%.Types of archaeological technician
Updated January 8, 2025
