Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Epidemiologists: $71K vs $87K Median Pay

Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Epidemiologists: what changes?

Consider Anthropologists and Archeologists if you want to study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings. Consider Epidemiologists if you would rather investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. 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 Epidemiologists. 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

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

Epidemiologists

National median pay (2025): $87,220
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: Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 800

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (12,800 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Epidemiologists brief

How the national numbers differ

Epidemiologists has the edge on projected growth

Epidemiologists is at 18.7% projected growth, compared with 6% projected growth for Anthropologists and Archeologists.

Epidemiologists has the edge on median pay

Epidemiologists is at $87,220, compared with $70,770 for Anthropologists and Archeologists.

43.9/ 100

Anthropologists and Archeologists

53.2/ 100

Epidemiologists

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 Epidemiologists

Dimension	Anthropologists and Archeologists	Epidemiologists
Median pay (2025)	$70,770	$87,220
Pay percentile	61.4 percentile	76.1 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	6%	18.7%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	800	800
2025 employment	10,200	12,800
How you qualify	Master's degree	Master's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 5	Job Zone 5
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS 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 brief Read Epidemiologists brief

Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Epidemiologists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Anthropologists and Archeologists

Epidemiologists

How the national numbers differ

Epidemiologists has the edge on projected growth

Epidemiologists has the edge on median pay

Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Epidemiologists

Try another comparison

Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Historians

Anthropologists and Archeologists vs Economists

Epidemiologists vs Economists

Epidemiologists vs Political Scientists