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As of October 2025, the average salary for an Archaeological Technician in the United States stands at $35,787 per year, equating to approximately $17 per hour. This salary can vary based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and specific job duties.
For instance, Archaeological Technicians working in urban areas tend to earn more due to higher living costs. States such as California and New York often offer competitive salaries, with some cities reporting higher wages due to demand for archaeological services.
With experience, many technicians can advance to roles such as Project Manager or Field Supervisor, which typically come with increased responsibilities and higher pay. Continuous education and specialization in specific archaeological techniques can further enhance earning potential.
Overall, understanding the factors influencing salary can guide individuals in making informed career decisions within the archaeological field.
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The highest-paying states for archaeological technicians are Massachusetts, Vermont, and Alaska. The lowest average archaeological technician salary states are Oklahoma, Georgia, and Indiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $46,854 | $22.53 |
| 2 | Alaska | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $47,081 | $22.64 |
| 4 | Maine | $40,628 | $19.53 |
| 5 | New York | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $43,795 | $21.06 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $43,479 | $20.90 |
| 8 | Nevada | $40,241 | $19.35 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $40,334 | $19.39 |
| 10 | Delaware | $39,856 | $19.16 |
| 11 | Texas | $41,204 | $19.81 |
| 12 | Oregon | $42,461 | $20.41 |
| 13 | Colorado | $39,374 | $18.93 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $40,408 | $19.43 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $40,253 | $19.35 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $37,854 | $18.20 |
| 17 | Utah | $37,719 | $18.13 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $37,245 | $17.91 |
| 19 | Virginia | $40,150 | $19.30 |
| 20 | Missouri | $35,715 | $17.17 |
| 21 | Iowa | $35,391 | $17.01 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $36,176 | $17.39 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $36,561 | $17.58 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $34,767 | $16.71 |
| 25 | Washington | $39,728 | $19.10 |
| 26 | Illinois | $36,089 | $17.35 |
| 27 | Michigan | $36,635 | $17.61 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $37,192 | $17.88 |
| 29 | California | $40,798 | $19.61 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $39,180 | $18.84 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $34,046 | $16.37 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $33,434 | $16.07 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $35,286 | $16.96 |
| 34 | Alabama | $34,578 | $16.62 |
| 35 | Idaho | $36,140 | $17.38 |
| 36 | Montana | $35,593 | $17.11 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $35,259 | $16.95 |
| 39 | Maryland | $36,848 | $17.72 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $34,708 | $16.69 |
| 41 | Ohio | $34,075 | $16.38 |
| 42 | Arizona | $34,411 | $16.54 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $31,481 | $15.14 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $32,446 | $15.60 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $34,000 | $16.35 |
| 46 | Georgia | $31,446 | $15.12 |
| 47 | Kansas | $33,083 | $15.91 |
| 48 | Indiana | $31,415 | $15.10 |
| 49 | Florida | $29,746 | $14.30 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $29,752 | $14.30 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $31,343 | $15.07 |
The highest-paying cities for archaeological technicians are Portland, OR, Sacramento, CA, and Austin, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $42,559 | $20.46 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $41,542 | $19.97 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $41,324 | $19.87 |
| 4 | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | $40,651 | $19.54 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $39,924 | $19.19 |
| 6 | Grand Junction, CO | $39,597 | $19.04 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,867 | $18.21 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $37,754 | $18.15 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| 10 | Germantown, MD | $36,756 | $17.67 |
| 11 | Champaign, IL | $35,538 | $17.09 |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | $35,270 | $16.96 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $34,818 | $16.74 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,410 | $16.54 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $33,495 | $16.10 |
| 16 | Oklahoma City, OK | $31,480 | $15.13 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $31,321 | $15.06 |
| 18 | Tallahassee, FL | $29,951 | $14.40 |
An archaeological technician's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $44,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $35,787 | $2,982 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of archaeological technicians are audit technician, ammunition technician, and senior field technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Environmental Services Supervisor | $40,163 | $3,347 | $19.31 | 67,959 |
| Field Technician Engineer | $50,370 | $4,198 | $24.22 | 73,704 |
| Environmental Field Technician | $38,450 | $3,204 | $18.49 | 76,665 |
| Field Installation Technician | $40,685 | $3,390 | $19.56 | 92,922 |
| Environmental Service Technician | $30,862 | $2,572 | $14.84 | 83,697 |
Top companies hiring archaeological technicians now:
Archaeological technician salaries at TRC Companies and Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average archaeological technician salary at companies like University of Illinois Springfield and Environmental Consulting & Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRC Companies | $37,755 | $18.15 |
| 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 |
| 5 | Stantec | $36,355 | $17.48 |
| 6 | Forest Manufacturing Co | $35,799 | $17.21 |
| 7 | AECOM | $35,366 | $17.00 |
| 8 | Tetra Tech | $35,068 | $16.86 |
| 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 |
The average archaeological technician salary has risen by $4,172 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average archaeological technician earned $31,615 annually, but today, they earn $35,787 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for archaeological technicians over the last decade.
Compare archaeological technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare archaeological technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,800 | $17.21 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | $35,600 | $17.13 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $34,500 | $16.60 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $34,000 | $16.36 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $33,100 | $15.89 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aecom | Mid-Level Archaeology Technician | Portland, OR | 06/19/2025 | $58,436 |
| Aecom | Mid-Level Archaeology Technician | Chico, CA | 06/19/2025 | $58,436 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Bellevue, WA | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Cheyenne, WY | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Las Vegas, NV | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Boise, ID | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Denver, CO | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Salt Lake City, UT | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Portland, OR | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
| Stantec Inc. | Archaeological Technician | Fairbanks, AK | 06/17/2025 | $51,000 |
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