The profession of archaeology is fraught with misplaced Hollywood glamour (think Lara Croft, and her gun holster and short-shorts), but for those hardworking ladies who devote themselves to dirt, bones, pots and books, the pay-off is a dynamic, international workspace and a profound understanding of the human past.


Median Salary: $61,365-$83,000
Average Starting Salary: $27,000-$33,000
Growth Rate: 10-20 percent more jobs through 2012
Sources: Society of American Archaeology, U.S. Department of Labor


Archaeologists are chameleons. In the summer, they might be excavating in a distant country; in the winter, they might give a lecture tour or publish a ground-breaking book. Dr. Claudia Sagona, a seasoned archaeologist who most recently worked as a Senior Investigator with the University of Malta, finds the varied work of her college position irresistible. “I have thoroughly enjoyed [my] twenty or more years of fieldwork in the highlands of eastern Turkey,” says Sagona. “Years of survey work have taken me into many of the mountain passes and lesser valleys—well off the beaten track.”

Other archaeologists are employed outside of academia in cultural management roles with private or government organizations, like the U.S. Forest Service. With the growing interest in history and preservation of the past, opportunities for archaeologists are more diverse than ever before.

HOW TO BECOME AN ARCHAEOLOGIST

Get a degree, then get another one… and maybe one more.
A college education is essential. It’s a long haul of study, even once you’re working, so passion is imperative. “I've been at university for six years, and I'm still going,” says Amanda Goldfarb, a University of Melbourne (Australia) graduate. “I always knew it was going to be hard work. But since the age of 4, archaeology has been my dream: This is the career for me.”