Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development and behavior of humans, through fieldwork, excavation, interviews and lab analysis. Software already plays a part: the BLS notes they use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate possible excavation sites. AI can add transcription, image sorting and literature searches, but the fieldwork stays physical and personal.
The short answer: AI is a research aid here, and the job is growing. The ILO's 2025 index rates sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals at gradient 2 with a score of 0.48. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth for anthropologists and archeologists from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 800 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed anthropologists are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Sociologists, Anthropologists and Related Professionals | Gradient 2 | 0.48 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for archeologists, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropologists and archeologists | Grow 6% | About 800 |
The BLS projects employment to grow from 10,200 jobs in 2025 to 10,800 in 2035. It says many openings will come from replacing workers who change occupations or retire. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Transcribing and translating field interviews.
- Sorting and tagging large sets of photos and artifact records.
- Mapping and analyzing site data alongside GIS.
- Searching and summarizing published research.
What stays with anthropologists and archeologists
- Fieldwork: excavation, survey and long-term work with communities.
- Trust and consent: relationships with the people and places studied.
- Interpretation: reading artifacts and accounts in their context.
- Checking AI help: transcriptions, translations and image labels can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
GIS and data skills already sit alongside field methods, and AI tools add to the digital side while the field and community work stays hands-on. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace sociologists?, will AI replace historians? and will AI replace archivists?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for anthropologists and archeologists at $70,770 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: master's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace anthropologists?
Not on current data. The ILO puts them in gradient 2, and the BLS projects 6 percent growth for anthropologists and archeologists from 2025 to 2035.
How many anthropologist and archeologist jobs are there?
The BLS counts 10,200 jobs in 2025, projected to reach 10,800 in 2035.
How many openings are expected?
About 800 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
What technology do archeologists use?
The BLS notes GIS for evaluating possible excavation sites and audio and video equipment for recording fieldwork.