Staff Archaeologist Jobs
Staff Archaeologist jobs are open across cultural resource management, federal agencies, academia, and environmental consulting, from entry-level field technician roles to senior staff positions, with specializations in GIS survey, historical archaeology, and Native American consultation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 17+ Staff Archaeologist jobs
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Understand and practice quality acumen.
- Support consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Responsible for conducting fieldwork and writing small to medium sized, relatively uncomplicated reports.
- Manages a field crew and ensures that Field Technicians and Crew Chiefs are performing fieldwork to the highest standards.
- May serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on survey and testing projects.
- Conducts archival research or field documentation and ensures the team is recording appropriate information or conducting appropriate analyses.
- Confidently identifies artifacts and recognizes natural and cultural features/stratigraphy.
- Responsible for ensuring field forms, data collection, and sample collection are consistent, complete, accurate and follows project-specific requirements.
- Prepares simple proposals.
- Presents papers at professional conferences.
- Promote pre-task planning for all projects.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Graduate degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or closely related field (MA, MS, PhD) and a minimum of 2 years’ related experience.
- Familiar with the cultural history of the region and surrounding areas.
- Secretary of Interior (SOI) qualified preferred.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
EEO Statement Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
- Follow safety rules, guidelines and standards for all projects. Participate in pre-task planning. Report any safety issues or concerns to management.
- Understand and practice quality acumen.
- Support consistent quality standards on proposal and project delivery.
- Responsible for conducting fieldwork and writing small to medium sized, relatively uncomplicated reports.
- Manages a field crew and ensures that Field Technicians and Crew Chiefs are performing fieldwork to the highest standards.
- May serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on survey and testing projects.
- Conducts archival research or field documentation and ensures the team is recording appropriate information or conducting appropriate analyses.
- Confidently identifies artifacts and recognizes natural and cultural features/stratigraphy.
- Responsible for ensuring field forms, data collection, and sample collection are consistent, complete, accurate and follows project-specific requirements.
- Prepares simple proposals.
- Presents papers at professional conferences.
- Promote pre-task planning for all projects.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Graduate degree in Archaeology, Anthropology, or closely related field (MA, MS, PhD) and a minimum of 2 years’ related experience.
- Familiar with the cultural history of the region and surrounding areas.
- Secretary of Interior (SOI) qualified preferred.
- A valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history may be required.
EEO Statement Terracon is an EEO employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, or military status.
See All 17 Staff Archaeologist Jobs
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Find Staff Archaeologist JobsStaff Archaeologist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in staff archaeologist jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in anthropology, archaeology, or a closely related field
- Minimum field experience meeting the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards
- Demonstrated knowledge of Section 106 and NHPA compliance procedures
- Proficiency with GIS software such as ArcGIS for survey mapping and site recording
- Experience preparing Phase I and Phase II archaeological survey reports
- Valid driver's license and ability to work in remote outdoor environments for extended periods
Tips for Your Staff Archaeologist Job Search
Tailor your resume to CRM standards
List every field project by state, time period, and site type rather than by employer alone. CRM firms scan for geographic coverage and regulatory experience, so a resume that names Section 106 and NHPA compliance gets you past screening faster than a generic skills list.
Get your 36 CFR 61 qualifications documented
Federal and many state contracts require proof you meet the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards. Compile your degree transcripts, field-hour logs, and supervisor letters before you apply so you can attach them without delay when listings require it.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists staff archaeologist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target listings by regulatory framework
Filter openings by NEPA, Section 106, or NHPA language to find projects that match your compliance background. A posting tied to a federal infrastructure contract signals longer-term work and more fieldwork hours than a small state-funded survey job.
Prepare a site report or technical writing sample
Many hiring managers ask for a writing sample before the interview, not after. Pull your cleanest Phase I or Phase II survey report, redact any client-sensitive details, and have it ready as a PDF so you can send it the same day a request arrives.
Negotiate project type, not just pay
In an offer conversation, ask which regulatory programs the firm is currently contracted under and whether the role includes lab or report-writing time, not just fieldwork. Firms with active federal permits offer more stable hours and more varied experience than those relying on single-state contracts.
Staff Archaeologist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most staff archaeologists?
The most active employers for staff archaeologists right now are Terracon Consultants, Jacobs, and HELIX Environmental Planning, and the most openings are in California, Texas, and Arizona, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. CRM firms tied to federal infrastructure projects tend to post the most consistently across the year.
How many staff archaeologist jobs are remote?
About 100% of staff archaeologist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions are concentrated in report writing, GIS analysis, and regulatory compliance review rather than fieldwork. Roles that require physical survey, excavation, or site monitoring remain almost entirely on-site or travel-based.
How do you become a staff archaeologist?
Start with a bachelor's degree in anthropology or archaeology and accumulate supervised field hours through academic excavations or volunteer programs. Pursue a master's degree if you want to qualify for principal investigator roles. Document your experience to meet the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification Standards, build GIS skills, and develop a writing portfolio of technical site reports to show CRM employers you can produce compliant documentation.
Can you get hired as a staff archaeologist with little experience?
Yes, some CRM firms hire candidates at the lower end of the staff archaeologist level if they meet the educational baseline and can demonstrate field hours from coursework or volunteer digs. Focus on roles posted as entry-level staff or junior staff, highlight any Section 106 training or state permit work, and apply to firms actively running multi-year federal contracts where they need to staff up quickly.
What does the staff archaeologist interview process look like?
Most CRM firms run a phone screen focused on your field experience and geographic coverage, followed by a technical interview where you walk through how you handle site identification, documentation, and report writing under regulatory deadlines. Some firms ask for a writing sample or a GIS exercise before the final conversation. Federal agency positions may add a structured panel interview and reference checks tied to specific project qualifications.
Where can I find and apply to staff archaeologist jobs?
You can find and apply to staff archaeologist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your experience, regulatory background, and preferred project type, then apply directly to each listing from the job page.
See All 17 Staff Archaeologist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Staff Archaeologist Jobs