For students with a BA degree in anthropology, job hunting may initially seem intimidating. This is largely because, unlike pre-professional majors, few job titles have the word “anthropologist” in them. Instead, jobs and careers that an Anthropology BA degree prepares you for are more linked to the skill set students develop during their undergraduate degree in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures at MSU.
A degree in Anthropology is widely applicable, and can lead to careers in many fields including:
- Archaeology
- Museums and Archives
- Government and nonprofit sectors
- Communications, Radio and Television
- Business
- Personnel Management
- Advertising
- Recreation and Tourism
- Marketing and Market Research
- Journalism
- Recreation
- Counseling
- Community Development
- International Development
- Universities and Higher Education
- Environmental Science and Environmental Services
- Public Health
- Healthcare: Medicine & Dentistry
- Genetics and Genomics
- Forensic Science
- Law
- Education
- Museum work
- Public and Social Policy
- Human Rights Work
- Land and Resource Management
- Cultural Heritage Management and Contract Archaeology
- Conservation Biology
- Laboratory or Field Technician
- Independent Consulting and Contracting
Common Career Opportunities for Students with a BA Degree in Anthropology
Corporate Career Opportunities
Entry Level: $47,000-$70,000 | Senior Level: $200,000+
Today's most successful companies recognize that understanding human behavior is the key to breakthrough innovation. UX Research represents the fastest-growing pathway, with 50,000+ practitioners nationwide.
- User Experience (UX) Researcher
- Cultural strategist
- Market Research Analyst
- Product Development Strategist
- Corporate Culture Leader
- International Business Consultant
- Brand Strategy Director
- Archaeological Site Manager
- Research Laboratory Scientist
Government Impact and Public Service Career Opportunities
Median Salary: $64,910
Shape policy and protect communities through meaningful government service. Your cultural competency becomes an essential tool for addressing complex social challenges. Federal agencies are among the largest employers of anthropologists.
- FBI Special Agent
- Forensic Anthropologist
- International Development Officer
- Policy Research Analyst
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Immigration & Customs Specialist
- Cultural Studies Program Director
- Museum Curator & Director
- Community Planning Coordinator
Global Health and Humanitarian Leadership Career Opportunities
Median Salary: $77,000-$88,000
Address humanity's most pressing challenges while building a career that creates lasting positive change across diverse communities worldwide. Many positions benefit from additional public health or medical training.
- Global Health Program Manager
- Humanitarian Aid Coordinator
- Medical Anthropologist
- Public Health Specialist
- International NGO Director
- Community Health Educator
- Epidemiologist and Public Health Specialist
- Research Laboratory Scientist
Career Paths for Anthropology Majors
These are examples of industry areas students enter with a BA degree in anthropology, including jobs/internships, typical employers that hire students, and the skills employers look for.
| Category | Industry / Employer | Job / Roles | Skills |
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| Museums & Archives |
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| Archaeology Consulting |
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| Government & Policy |
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| Urban Planning |
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| Documentary & Filmmaking |
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| Journalism & Writing |
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| Nonprofits |
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| Marketing |
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| Interpreting & Translating |
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| Education |
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| Business |
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Job Boards for Students with a BA degree in Anthropology
- Anthropology Careers and Employment.
- The Anthropology Job Board for jobseekers.
- Job Board: Positions at Museums: Small Museum Association Job Board, US Department of the Interior, and the American Alliance of Museums.
- Job Board: Positions in Archaeology: Society for American Archaeology and Shovel Bums.
- Job Board: Position in Forensics: American Academy of Forensic Sciences,
- Job Board: Non-academic positions in anthropology through the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology.
- Job Board: Career One Stop: Positions in anthropology in the US*
- *Use a combination of general and specific key terms (hint: "anthropology" will not produce many; "museum", for example, will on the other hand).
Helpful Resources for Job-seeking Students with a Major or Minor in Anthropology
- US News & World Report: What you need to know about an Anthropology Major
- Business Daily News: How Cultural Anthropology can inform Business Strategy
- Anthropology News: Articulating Anthropology’s value to Business
- Applying for non-academic jobs in anthropology (The Professor Is In)
- National Association for the Practice of Anthropology offers a robust set of resources for the jobseeker.
- Anthro Career Ready contains many helpful career-related materials.