Things I like: traveling, getting paid to eat in restaurants (perdiem), being outdoors in the wild, finding things no one has seen for 1000+ years.

Things I dislike: not much job security, traveling (living in low-class motels for months at a time gets old), sharing rooms with drunks or grumpy people.

What I wish I knew: that I HAD to have a master's, before getting too old for it to do me much good. I'm really ADD, and archaeology is the perfect job/career for me, but without an MA there is little future in it at present. I could have had one years ago if I had realized that I was ADD and needed to do things differently in grad school, but after flunking out there is little chance of ever going back. I totally would do it over again if I could go back a couple of decades and do it right.

Now put the little ones down for a nap and start writing!

Honestly?

My advice is don't do it.  Get a normal career than you can make a living at (one that pays you for your education, experience, and sacrifice) and volunteer as an archaeologist.  I have been doing this for 10 years and have a graduate degree (since 2003).  All I have to show for it is a salary less than an entry level social worker (or teacher), a host of lingering injuries and deformities, no house, no child, and a neglected wife that I see on rare occaisions.  

If I could do it over, I would not go into this business.  Financially, it is not worth it.  Getting your archaeology fix would be far better as a volunteer.  Or as a second career/retired hobby.

One of my supervisors actually gave me the same advice when I was just starting out - find something else as a career, and volunteer on an archaeological project during my vacations and weekends.

I wish I had gotten my master's years ago too, as it would have made a big difference.  Many career shovelbums I know like to say that money doesn't matter, but being able to make a decent wage makes a big difference once you factor in having a family or owning a house. 

I think it would be good to provide more information to those who might be considering this as a career, as there are certainly pros and cons that aren't necessarily addressed elsewhere.  I don't think many students have a good idea of how little money they will be making with just a BA.  I ran into this blurb about the mean income of archaeologists and anthropologists in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 edition. The writeup does point out that "Candidates who have a master's or Ph.D. degree in a social science, who are skilled in quantitative research methods, and who also have good written and communications skills are likely to have the best job opportunities".  However, I'd like to dig a little deeper and find out where they are coming up with the following numbers. I have seen various statistics bandied about through the years (including a claim by someone from the UAFT years ago that there were over 100,000 archys in the U.S., the majority working within CRM). When you factor in all the shovelbums, what is the real median wage? It's sad to say, but I don't think I ever made more than $24k a year.

Wages of anthropologists and archaeologists, geographers, and historians vary. Median annual wages for anthropologists and archaeologists were $53,910 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $39,200 and $70,980. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,150, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $89,490.
...

In March 2009, the Federal Government’s average annual salary for anthropologists was $88,302; for archaeologists, $70,606; for geographers, $79,223; and for historians, $87,730. Beginning salaries were higher in selected areas of the country where the prevailing local pay level was higher.

This last paragraph isn't much of a shocker.  Think of all of the USAJOBS postings to this website.  It seems that most I pass along are in the GS-09 through GS-12 range.

The most I ever made was a couple of years ago when, with bonuses, OT, etc. I made in excess of 50k. Of course, that was the year that my wife was diagnosed with cancer, and the doctors got much of it. The next summer I was laid off. I've worked a grand total of nine weeks in three states in the year since then.

Our field techs range from 24k to 27k (per diem not withstanding) with crew chiefs in the low 30s at best.  I have had an MA for 7 years and haven't ever cracked 40k. 

Now, the fed (to a much lesser degree state) work is probably the most lucrative path.  Unfortunately, you need to get into the system early.  I have tried to get an MA level position for years... you just aren't gonna start there.  Unfortunately, with a wife to support I can't just start over and work up in the fed system.

The numbers you have there for the private sector seem a little inflated to me.

Here's another perspective -

Back in the early 1990s I transferred out of a doctoral path (after 5 years of grad work in anthro) to public health thinking this would provide better earning capacity and job security - WRONG!  Anthro and arch was my passion, I never should have made that change.  I have not found decent salaries or job security in public health or clinical work.

I recently made a return to work in arch in an area where jobs, in general, are scarce and pay is low - for example, Executive Director positions for nonprofits here pay about $15/hour, with no benefits.  But there is plenty of arch here in the gas and oil fields.  Since I do have a Masters degree, and I happen to have bought a home in the area (I am "stable" and not going anywhere), plus I can think and write, have good research and database management skills, the CRM company I am currently working for hired me in a heartbeat over other younger BA shovelbums.  I have started at entry level, understandably, since it has been over 20 years since doing any arch whatsoever, but I do have a full-time position with potential.

The masters degree IS critical if you want to advance in the profession, as is having a full tool box of skills.  You need to be able to wear many hats in CRM, not just the fieldwork.  Permitting is equally important, which requires time spent really learning the archaeology of regions/cultures.  Bouncing around all over the country for short stints as a field tech is not going to get you anywhere very fast. 

I see this as a matter of committing to a career path, getting the degrees, and paying your dues.  It doesn't matter if it is arch or social work or health care ... you gotta have a plan, make a commitment and invest in your future.  And pick up those technology skills for your tool box. 

Jennifer,

 I hear you, and often find myself getting questions from folks who have just graduated (including BAs) wanting to know how to get on the list to start doing jobs!  When I tell them what they actually need to be successful as a start up business, I often never hear back - either I have scared them off, of they just figure I don't know what I am talking about.   It never ceases to amaze me how many people really have no clue about what it takes to be a successful arcaheologist or to start up a successful firm.  I would be happy to share ideas with you on the topic.  As for things that folks should be aware of early  - Some basics -

1. Not everyone that tries to be an archaeologist will succeed.  The work is both mentally and physically demanding and there is a great deal of competition for any good jobs out there. 

2. Recognize that a degree in hand (of any kind) does not magically impart to you the knowledge you need.  Successful archaeologists learn a great deal from experiencing a broad array of work/sites/firms/envrionmental conditions, etc.

3.  Be sure you have at least one field school before even applying for a job (some programs give BA/BS degrees without requireing a field school component ! ! ! ).  The more field work experience you can get while in school, the better - and that does not mean going back to the same site for 3 years - broaden the scope of your experience as much as possible.  Get as much and as varied Experience as you can.

4.  Don't minimize you classroom experieince to the "required" courses.  If you want to be an archaeologist, take as many related courses as possible.  My undergraduate classes include non-archaeo/anthro courses in:  Cartography, Air photo interpretation, Micro-Paleontology - all of which have been very helpful.  In the years since I have continued to take courses to broaden my background - inlcuding Micro-biology, Human anatomy and chemistry.  Other helpful experiences have come from modules within other classes on the kinematics of injury (how does a body- bones- get damaged), etc. 

5.  LEARN HOW TO TAKE GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS ! ! - This can not be stressed enough.  Even in todays age of instantly available digital photography - I see far too many images in reports that are either so dark or so washed out you can not make out stratigraphic details.  Learn how to adjust to light conditions, how to adjust your camera for closeup modes, etc.

These are just a few things to keep in mind - many of which are already touched on in textbooks, but how they apply personally seem to escape the grasp of many students (not all) that want to be archaeologists.

Then there is the whole issue of how does one become a successful archaeological consultant - or company.  Check out my chapter in the book Archaeology & Cultural Resource Management: Visions for the Future (2010 SAR Press).  If you are interested but unable to access the book let me know and I can e-mail you the draft for my chapter.

I have had a long and successful career in the field, and know many others that have as well.  I think some of the keys have been: - recognizing that it is not a field that will make you wealthy; always looking for something new to learn - being eager and inquisitive about what I don't know yet; and being willing to endure less than perfect conditions without real complaints (of course grumbling about the heat/cold/rain/snow/humidity/bugs/briars..... is allowed if good naturee =). 

I could go on - but I won't ....

Good Luck with your effort and let me know if I can be of any help.

The reason I left the field of archaeology was to put my family first.  After I received my MA, I promptly went to work as a project manager for a CRM firm working 60+ hours a week in the field; far away from my wife and child.  Talk about difficult.  Everything everyone else list about loving archaeology is spot on, but the toll fieldwork has on the family is undeniable.  I put them ahead of that career and am now working in GIS, with stable pay, benefits, and all the rest.  The best part is that I still have friends in archaeology who need maps, so I get to play archaeologist in cyberspace, and on occasion get to spend a few days.  But I don't miss being underpaid, with poor benefits, living away from my loved ones.

The wages quoted in the Occupational Handbooks each year for archaeologists and anthropologists is based almost entirely on government and academic positions with little reflection of the reality of CRM positions.  Hence the rather inflated numbers compared to CRM.  When Chris and I published our article with the SAA a few years ago, we pointed this out and then compared it to our findings for field tech pay rates around the country.

Scotty: I do remember your article, and would like to check it out again. Is it still on the web? It is clear that the wages on that govt website are based in an alternate reality.

Cmark: I have the same concerns about having a family and staying within archaeology.  Though there are certainly people who do it, I personally couldn't return to shovelbumming leaving behind two little boys at home.

Dmack: I appreciate your input - lots of good advice as always.  I will certainly take you up on your offer of assistance in the future. Thanks again.

Yazzie: I agree that is a MA is critical if you want stability and wish to make more than peanuts. I know a few people who have done very well with just a BA, but they are in the minority.

McBain: If I had known what I do now about working for the federal government years ago, I would have done so early in my career.  In many ways it is far superior than working for private firms at the field crew level, especially when compared to some of my experiences with 'bad' CRM companies.

Thanks again to everyone for their feedback and sharing their experiences. Though I plan to do quite a bit of research for the book, I feel that hearing from folks here on the website is one of the best resources I have for information. 

Jennifer.....Yes it is still online at the SAA website.

Scott

Could someone post a link to that article?

http://www.saa.org/Portals/0/SAA/Publications/thesaaarchrec/mar08.pdf

I think compiling all of this into a central resource is a great idea...

What does it take to be an archaeologist? 

I think one of the hardest parts of being an archaeologist is that you must continuously invest in yourself.  This means constantly networking, writing papers, giving presentations and posters, attending conferences, etc.  An archaeologist needs to have a long term goal and everything needs to be a part of this.  If you want to go to grad school in Colorado, start working your way out west, find a company run by someone who went to the school, have a five year plan.

But ultimately, to be a successful archaeologist I believe you need to make sacrifices early on in your career (low wages, poor benefits, etc.) in order to open doors for the long run.

Can you really make a living doing this?

It depends on how you define making a living.  At the BA level, it's not hard to live fairly well if you're willing to live the college lifestyle.  If you don't mind living out of hotels and the trunk of your car, have an apartment with four roommates who you never see, you can actually do quite well. If you want to buy a house and have kids, then it's very hard.  When married, it's also emotionally very hard to leave your spouse for months at a time.

When you get your Masters, you'll have a lot more flexibility.  It's been my experience that a Staff II makes around $40 or $45k, which isn't all that bad.  There's also more stability and less traveling.  It also allows you to make more personalized contact with clients and pull in big contracts, which will morph into more money/bonuses.

How do you get your first paying job?

I obtained the consultants list for my state and surrounding states.  I sent a resume and cover letter to  every company listed (around 200 or 300) and cold called all of the ones I had leads for.

What do you like or dislike about working as a field archaeologist? 

As I got older, a lot of my "likes" gradually turned into "dislikes".  Working outside, freedom to travel, meet new people, drinking a lot at shady bars was definitely a lot of fun in my early to mid 20's but eventually got old.

What is a typical good day or bad day on the job? 

A good day is working on an excavation, where it's genuinely exciting to dig a feature or a unit.  A bad day is digging sterile units or STP after STP in the blazing sun or sub-freezing temperatures.  A bad day would also be when you know a project is wrapping up, have no leads on new jobs, and have no idea who your current employer is going to keep for the next contract.

What do you wish you knew before choosing this as a career? 

How critical it was to go to graduate school as early as possible.  I also wish I would have understood how important it was to specialize in a critical sub-field in archaeology.  "Generalists" really don't go far in terms of demand or salary.  A GIS, geophysical, e-bot, or geomorphologist specialist is always going to be better off than a lithicist or ceramic specialist.

Would you still make the same choice over again? 

Yes but I wish I would have more intensely specialized as an undergrad.

Good idea, Jennifer. Too many schools never touch on the reality their budding archaeologists will face, once they leave the safe world of Academia and go out and scramble with tens of thousands of others, competing for a very few decent jobs. You CAN make a decent living as an archaeologist, but it takes time, perserverence, and a willingness to do a lot of things folks in other professions don't have to. I've been messing about with it for 20 years, as a second profession that I started way late in life, and if I had it to do over again, I'm not really sure I would. But I plan to keep going for a while more, so maybe I'll change my mind. In any case, an honest book with a good picture of the ups and downs would have been a useful thing, and probably would have saved me from some BS. So, my vote is: Go for It!

I took part in a pilot course at my university last year that was more or less a discussion forum on careers in Anthropology.  It focused primarily on the need for one to continually develop their skill set and advertise it to create their own path.  We DEFINITELY could have benefited from a book like you are proposing.  

I, honestly, think that a book of this sort is an amazing idea.  I am currently a Junior at Penn State majoring in Archaeological Science and I feel as though I am throwing myself into something I am very unsure about.  I love the idea of Archaeology and, the wierd thing is that, I never really knew what it was until I came to college.  I completely understand that the idea of Archaeology tends to be a lot more romantic and adventurous than the actual job itself, but I have always been very drawn to it.  However, I feel as though there is so much to know about the profession and not a lot of people- and by "not a lot" I mean NONE- at my school (which is a branch) that could explain a lot of questions I had because no one really had any experience with it.  I would really appreciate reading something that could explain the expectations of the job and all the possibilities you have with it.  
I am looking forward to attending Penn State University Park this fall.  There I am hoping to talk with someone that has any expreience in the field.  But it is very discouraging to wait until my Junior year of college to actually learn about what I plan to do for the rest of my life.  Also- I know that archeologiest must choose an area of study so they can dedicate themselves to learning and discovering history in that area.  This, however, is very scary to me and I feel as though I am pressed for time because there are so many places I would love to work- I could probably work anywhere to be honest.  Therefore, I think you could include something about picking your area of study.  I feel as though even a Q&A type setup would be very efficient.  It should really be something that a student could relate to because a lot of books that I have already read basically assume that you are experienced and know exactly what they are talking about.
Also, I have no idea where to even start with work experience.  There is really only one area around where I live that you are able to volunteer for such work and that is only offered for one week at the end of August.  Therefore, some information on how to get involved with the entire Archaeological community would definately be useful 

Either way-these are just a couple ideas from a college student's point of view and I hope I could be of some form of help! And, most importantly, I think you should definately do this!