Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an archaeologist
Quoted expert
Dr. Donn R. Grenda Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for archaeologists in the United States. Archaeologist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for archaeologists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for archaeologists. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for archaeologists, and people in Newport earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for archaeologists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Alaska is the best state for archaeologist jobs, whereas Nebraska is the worst.
10 best states for archaeologists in 2026
1. Alaska
Total archaeologist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $58,070 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 8.05
2. Connecticut
Total archaeologist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $60,165 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
3. Pennsylvania
Total archaeologist jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $58,157 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0.48
4. Rhode Island
Total archaeologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $60,426 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0
5. Massachusetts
Total archaeologist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $59,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 0.37
6. Maine
Total archaeologist jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $55,221 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
7. New Hampshire
Total archaeologist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,633 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. Nevada
Total archaeologist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $53,549 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
9. Arizona
Total archaeologist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $51,576 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 2.3
10. New York
Total archaeologist jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $59,618 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.35
Archaeologist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an archaeologist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an archaeologist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $58,070 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 6 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,165 | $38,000 | 3,588,184 | 2 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $58,157 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 5 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $60,426 | $38,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $59,894 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 3 |
| 6 | Maine | $55,221 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 1 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $58,633 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 8 | Nevada | $53,549 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 2 |
| 9 | Arizona | $51,576 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 12 |
| 10 | New York | $59,618 | $37,000 | 19,849,399 | 4 |
| 11 | Delaware | $58,407 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $59,494 | $37,000 | 9,005,644 | 2 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $51,464 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 1 |
| 14 | Maryland | $56,788 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 5 |
| 15 | Virginia | $54,927 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 7 |
| 16 | Ohio | $50,992 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 5 |
| 17 | Vermont | $56,147 | $36,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $49,232 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 6 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $56,332 | $36,000 | 693,972 | 2 |
| 20 | California | $54,188 | $35,000 | 39,536,653 | 97 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $48,145 | $34,000 | 755,393 | 2 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $49,466 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 3 |
| 23 | Michigan | $51,657 | $34,000 | 9,962,311 | 0 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $50,185 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 1 |
| 25 | Oregon | $50,317 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 8 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $49,065 | $32,000 | 10,273,419 | 4 |
| 27 | Washington | $49,499 | $32,000 | 7,405,743 | 12 |
| 28 | Montana | $47,199 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 5 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $46,735 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 6 |
| 30 | Texas | $49,735 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 6 |
| 31 | Indiana | $48,142 | $32,000 | 6,666,818 | 1 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $45,413 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $44,998 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 7 |
| 34 | Utah | $47,506 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 2 |
| 35 | Florida | $48,659 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 8 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $48,558 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 2 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $46,758 | $32,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $47,221 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
| 39 | Iowa | $46,797 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $46,995 | $31,000 | 5,024,369 | 1 |
| 41 | Illinois | $48,421 | $32,000 | 12,802,023 | 2 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $45,249 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 3 |
| 43 | Idaho | $47,355 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 0 |
| 44 | Alabama | $46,406 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $45,032 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 1 |
| 46 | Missouri | $44,907 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 5 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $45,518 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 1 |
| 48 | Kansas | $44,528 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 2 |
| 49 | Georgia | $46,168 | $30,000 | 10,429,379 | 4 |
| 50 | Colorado | $44,886 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 5 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $45,176 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 0 |
Highest paying states for archaeologists
| Rank | State | Avg. Archaeologist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $58,070 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $60,165 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $58,157 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $60,426 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $59,894 |
| 6 | Maine | $55,221 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $58,633 |
| 8 | Nevada | $53,549 |
| 9 | Arizona | $51,576 |
| 10 | New York | $59,618 |
| 11 | Delaware | $58,407 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $59,494 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $51,464 |
| 14 | Maryland | $56,788 |
| 15 | Virginia | $54,927 |
| 16 | Ohio | $50,992 |
| 17 | Vermont | $56,147 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $49,232 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $56,332 |
| 20 | California | $54,188 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $48,145 |
| 22 | Louisiana | $49,466 |
| 23 | Michigan | $51,657 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $50,185 |
| 25 | Oregon | $50,317 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $49,065 |
| 27 | Washington | $49,499 |
| 28 | Montana | $47,199 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $46,735 |
| 30 | Texas | $49,735 |
| 31 | Indiana | $48,142 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $45,413 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $44,998 |
| 34 | Utah | $47,506 |
| 35 | Florida | $48,659 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $48,558 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $46,758 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $47,221 |
| 39 | Iowa | $46,797 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $46,995 |
| 41 | Illinois | $48,421 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $45,249 |
| 43 | Idaho | $47,355 |
| 44 | Alabama | $46,406 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $45,032 |
| 46 | Missouri | $44,907 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $45,518 |
| 48 | Kansas | $44,528 |
| 49 | Georgia | $46,168 |
| 50 | Colorado | $44,886 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $45,176 |
Expert opinions on the best states for archaeologists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for archaeologists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Donn R. Grenda Ph.D.
President, Statistical Research
Тhe location and number of jobs in archaeology directly relate to the location of large development projects. The western United States has a large number of jobs related to renewable energy, transportation, military lands, Bureau of Land Management, and other federal land-owning agencies, and urban development. These jobs tend to be available on a year-round basis.
Archaeologist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for archaeologist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025