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Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Economists: what changes?

Consider Anthropologists and Archeologists if you want to study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings. Consider Economists if you would rather conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. Both list master's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Anthropologists and Archeologists and Economists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Anthropologists and Archeologists

National median pay (2025)
$70,770
Route into the job
Master's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Collect information and make judgments through observation, interviews, and review of documents.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
800
Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (10,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Anthropologists and Archeologists brief

Economists

National median pay (2025)
$124,720
Route into the job
Master's degree
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate
Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
1,100
Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (18,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Economists brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Economists has the edge on median pay

Economists is at $124,720, compared with $70,770 for Anthropologists and Archeologists.

2

Anthropologists and Archeologists has the edge on projected growth

Anthropologists and Archeologists is at 6% projected growth, compared with 4.7% projected growth for Economists.

3

Economists has the edge on annual openings

Economists is at 1,100 annual openings, compared with 800 annual openings for Anthropologists and Archeologists.

43.9/ 100

Anthropologists and Archeologists

vs
51.7/ 100

Economists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Economists

DimensionAnthropologists and ArcheologistsEconomists
Median pay (2025)$70,770$124,720
Pay percentile61.4 percentile90.4 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)6%4.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)8001,100
2025 employment10,20018,600
How you qualifyMaster's degreeMaster's degree
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 5Job Zone 5
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingBLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Anthropologists and Archeologists briefRead Economists brief

Try another comparison

Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Historians

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Anthropologists and Archeologists
$70,770 · 6% growth
Historians
$76,750 · 3% growth
Compare careers →

Economists vs Political Scientists

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Economists
$124,720 · 4.7% growth
Political Scientists
$142,080 · -2% growth
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Economists vs Epidemiologists

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Economists
$124,720 · 4.7% growth
Epidemiologists
$87,220 · 18.7% growth
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