Archaeologist Jobs for OPT Students
Archaeologist jobs on OPT are available across federal agencies, universities, cultural resource management firms, and museums. Most roles qualify as STEM-adjacent or fall under social sciences, giving you solid ground for standard 12-month OPT. Field and lab positions both count toward authorized employment.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
ROLE
Jacobs is seeking Staff Archaeologists to support a variety of projects across Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming and other western geographies. This position provides cultural resources support for planning, engineering, and construction services to commercial clients. Depending on candidate and organization needs, we offer flexible hours and benefits, and this position is available as either
Part-Time, on-call (without benefits), or
Modified Full-Time at 21-39 hours per week (with benefits), or
* Full-Time (with benefits)
The archaeologist career path provides the opportunity to work on projects that require compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and various state regulations. All work will be conducted under the guidance of senior cultural resources staff. Frequent travel is expected for the position. It is critical that candidates be able to work 8-to-10-hour days in a variety of conditions and understand that there could be frequent trips away from the office. Candidates must demonstrate a high awareness for workplace safety. This position offers unique opportunities for professional growth and expanding archaeological competency across a variety of projects and geographies. This position comes with a solid potential for career advancement within Jacobs. We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs’ offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
At least a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology/Archaeology/CRM
Minimum of 3+ years of all phases of professional archaeological field work experience, including in western states
Experience in construction monitoring and collaborating with tribal monitors
Basic knowledge of historic preservation laws and policies, including NEPA, NHPA, ARPA, NAGPRA, and California state regulations and cultural resources policies
Experience using GPS technology, including EOS, FieldMap applications, Survey123, among others
Basic soil identification
Proficiency with basic feature and artifact identification, including precontact ceramics, flaked stone, and ground stone, and diagnostic historic artifacts
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Must be capable of walking for long periods of time over rugged terrain, excavating shovel tests and test units, screening soil, and carrying field equipment
Must be willing and able to travel frequently and for long periods of time, as needed
Must be motivated and able to work safely with minimum supervision
* Experience and comfort in working independently in the field and office
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
5+ years of experience
Experience leading crews in the field
Experience conducting research, literature reviews, and cartographic reviews
Experience writing compliance reports and completing site forms
Background in the consulting environment
Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and be responsive to both internal and external clients
HAZWOPER certification
OSHA-10 certification
COMPENSATION
- Base salary range: $61,700.00 to $90,000.00; though will be paid hourly based on hours worked. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. As a modified full-time employee, we’ll give you the flexibility to work anywhere between 21-39 hours per week. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Employees in a modified full-time status will receive PTO based upon number of hours worked (allocated plans start at 17 days per calendar year). And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Job posted on March 03, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days. We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.
INTRODUCTION
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
ROLE
Jacobs is seeking Staff Archaeologists to support a variety of projects across Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming and other western geographies. This position provides cultural resources support for planning, engineering, and construction services to commercial clients. Depending on candidate and organization needs, we offer flexible hours and benefits, and this position is available as either
Part-Time, on-call (without benefits), or
Modified Full-Time at 21-39 hours per week (with benefits), or
* Full-Time (with benefits)
The archaeologist career path provides the opportunity to work on projects that require compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and various state regulations. All work will be conducted under the guidance of senior cultural resources staff. Frequent travel is expected for the position. It is critical that candidates be able to work 8-to-10-hour days in a variety of conditions and understand that there could be frequent trips away from the office. Candidates must demonstrate a high awareness for workplace safety. This position offers unique opportunities for professional growth and expanding archaeological competency across a variety of projects and geographies. This position comes with a solid potential for career advancement within Jacobs. We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs’ offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
At least a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology/Archaeology/CRM
Minimum of 3+ years of all phases of professional archaeological field work experience, including in western states
Experience in construction monitoring and collaborating with tribal monitors
Basic knowledge of historic preservation laws and policies, including NEPA, NHPA, ARPA, NAGPRA, and California state regulations and cultural resources policies
Experience using GPS technology, including EOS, FieldMap applications, Survey123, among others
Basic soil identification
Proficiency with basic feature and artifact identification, including precontact ceramics, flaked stone, and ground stone, and diagnostic historic artifacts
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Must be capable of walking for long periods of time over rugged terrain, excavating shovel tests and test units, screening soil, and carrying field equipment
Must be willing and able to travel frequently and for long periods of time, as needed
Must be motivated and able to work safely with minimum supervision
* Experience and comfort in working independently in the field and office
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
5+ years of experience
Experience leading crews in the field
Experience conducting research, literature reviews, and cartographic reviews
Experience writing compliance reports and completing site forms
Background in the consulting environment
Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and be responsive to both internal and external clients
HAZWOPER certification
OSHA-10 certification
COMPENSATION
- Base salary range: $61,700.00 to $90,000.00; though will be paid hourly based on hours worked. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. As a modified full-time employee, we’ll give you the flexibility to work anywhere between 21-39 hours per week. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Employees in a modified full-time status will receive PTO based upon number of hours worked (allocated plans start at 17 days per calendar year). And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Job posted on March 03, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days. We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Archaeologist
Target federal and university employers first
Federal agencies like the National Park Service and universities with active field programs sponsor OPT and H-1B regularly. These institutions have established HR processes for work authorization and are less likely to reject candidates on visa grounds alone.
Lead with your specialized technical skills
GIS mapping, ground-penetrating radar, zooarchaeology, or bioarchaeology expertise sets you apart. Employers in cultural resource management and research institutions actively seek these skills and are more willing to support work authorization for candidates who bring hard-to-find capabilities.
Understand your OPT employment requirements
Your work must be directly related to your degree in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related field. Roles in cultural resource management, site assessment, or museum collections qualify. Administrative or unrelated work does not count toward authorized OPT employment.
Pursue cultural resource management firms proactively
CRM firms handle federally mandated archaeological surveys before construction projects. They hire year-round, often struggle to find qualified candidates, and operate under federal contracts that normalize visa sponsorship conversations. Smaller firms are often more flexible than large corporations.
Apply before your OPT start date when possible
Archaeology hiring cycles, especially for field seasons, run months in advance. Submitting applications before your OPT authorization begins shows employers you are organized and reduces their concern about a gap between your start date and work authorization.
Frame your international background as an asset
Experience excavating sites outside the U.S. or familiarity with foreign artifact typologies is genuinely valuable in archaeology. Position your international training and multilingual ability as specialized knowledge, not a complication. Employers working on cross-border or comparative projects actively value this.
Archaeologist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do archaeologist jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes. Archaeology roles qualify for OPT as long as the work is directly related to your degree. This includes field excavation, laboratory analysis, site documentation, GIS mapping, and collections management. Your major should be in archaeology, anthropology, or a closely related discipline. Roles that are administrative or unrelated to your field of study do not count as valid OPT employment.
Where can I find archaeologist jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by visa sponsorship willingness. Searching on Migrate Mate lets you focus on employers already open to candidates on OPT or H-1B, which saves time and reduces rejection from employers who screen out international applicants early in the process.
Can I work for a cultural resource management firm on OPT?
Yes, and CRM firms are often one of the most accessible entry points for OPT students in archaeology. These firms conduct federally mandated surveys and excavations before land development, creating consistent hiring demand. Because they operate under federal contracts and frequently face candidate shortages, many are comfortable working with candidates on OPT or sponsoring H-1B visas afterward.
Does seasonal field work count as valid OPT employment?
It depends on the structure. USCIS requires that OPT employment be at least 20 hours per week to count as valid. Seasonal field positions that meet this threshold and are directly related to your degree qualify. Short-term contracts or volunteer roles that fall below 20 hours per week do not count and could jeopardize your OPT authorization if they represent your only employment.
Which employers in archaeology are most likely to sponsor H-1B after OPT?
Federal agencies including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Smithsonian Institution have consistent track records of sponsoring work visas. Research universities with active archaeological programs also sponsor regularly. Larger CRM firms with recurring federal contracts are more likely to sponsor H-1B than smaller boutique firms, though exceptions exist for candidates with rare technical specializations.
See which Archaeologist employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
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