Prevailing Wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists
Prevailing wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists under SOC 19-3091 is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry through fully competent. Whether your offer is for an Applied Anthropologist, a Forensic Anthropologist, or an American Indian Policy Specialist, the floor varies significantly by worksite city, so the national figure rarely tells the full story.
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Entry-level candidates with limited professional experience, typically recent graduates applying foundational methods under close supervision. Employers file at Level 1 when the role involves structured tasks with defined outcomes and little independent research design.
Qualified professionals with moderate experience who work independently on standard projects. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Anthropologists and Archeologists, reflecting roles that require professional judgment but fall short of senior or specialized expertise.
Experienced practitioners who lead fieldwork, manage junior staff, or direct research programs. These candidates bring specialized knowledge, whether in cultural resource management, forensic analysis, or indigenous policy, and exercise significant professional discretion.
Fully competent senior professionals setting methodological direction, authoring policy, or serving as principal investigators. Level 4 applies to roles where the candidate's expertise shapes organizational or research outcomes with minimal oversight.
Prevailing Wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Anthropologists and Archeologists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Anthropologists and Archeologists
Watch for title mismatches that shift your SOC
Job postings for Applied Cultural Anthropologists or Communication and Folklore Specialists are sometimes filed under adjacent social scientist codes instead of SOC 19-3091. A misfiled LCA means the prevailing wage floor may not match this occupation's actual rates for your metro.
Factor in fieldwork location versus office address
Anthropologists and archeologists frequently work on excavation sites or tribal lands that differ from the employer's headquarters. DOL requires the LCA wage to reflect the actual worksite location, so a Boston-based employer sponsoring a project in a lower-wage metro must use that worksite's prevailing wage.
Expect a wide range between government and private employers
Federal agencies, state historic preservation offices, and cultural resource management firms each file at different wage levels for this occupation. Private CRM contractors often file at L1 or L2, while federal research positions more commonly reach L3 or L4 given the scope and independence required.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers sponsoring this role
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Anthropologists and Archeologists for H-1B or green card, so you can focus on organizations with a proven track record rather than cold-approaching agencies that have never filed for this SOC.
Jobs for Anthropologists and Archeologists are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-3091.00 alongside Anthropologists and Archeologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
American Indian Policy Specialist Prevailing Wage
American Indian Policy Specialist Prevailing Wage
American Indian Policy Specialist positions fall under SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Applied Anthropologist Prevailing Wage
Applied Anthropologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Applied Anthropologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Applied Cultural Anthropologist Prevailing Wage
Applied Cultural Anthropologist Prevailing Wage
Applied Cultural Anthropologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Archaeologist Prevailing Wage
Archaeologist Prevailing Wage
Archaeologist positions fall under SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Communication and Folklore Specialist Prevailing Wage
Communication and Folklore Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Communication and Folklore Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Forensic Anthropologist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Anthropologist Prevailing Wage
Forensic Anthropologist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Historical Archaeologist Prevailing Wage
Historical Archaeologist Prevailing Wage
Historical Archaeologist positions fall under SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Research Archaeologist Prevailing Wage
Research Archaeologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Research Archaeologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Researcher Prevailing Wage
Researcher Prevailing Wage
Researcher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-3091.00 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists?
DOL draws on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and calculates four wage levels for each SOC code in each metro area. For SOC 19-3091, OFLC publishes these figures in its wage library, and employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level before sponsoring a visa.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level work under close direction; Level 2 applies to qualified professionals working independently on standard tasks; Level 3 reflects experienced practitioners with specialized expertise or supervisory duties; Level 4 covers fully competent senior roles. Your level is determined by the actual duties in the job description, not your personal resume or title.
Why does the prevailing wage for this occupation vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. A position in Boston or Anchorage sits in a market where demand and cost of living push wages significantly higher than in Albany or Knoxville. The LCA must list the actual worksite, so the relevant wage is always the metro where the work occurs, not where the employer is headquartered.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition without a certified LCA. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must either raise the salary, reclassify the position to a lower level if the duties genuinely support it, or the sponsorship cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 19-3091 for any metro area. Enter the occupation code and select the worksite geography to see the four level wages. Cross-check with O*NET to confirm the role's typical duties align with the filed SOC. For jobs already on the market, Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored Anthropologists and Archeologists before, helping you identify where active sponsorship is happening.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Anthropologists and Archeologists right now.
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