Anthropologists and Archeologists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,970 or more. The middle half of anthropologists and archeologists in San Diego earn between $56,750 and $80,720.
- $55K10th
- $57K25th
- $66KMedian
- $81K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,840 | $6,153 | $35.50 |
| Median | $66,160 | $5,513 | $31.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,750 | $4,729 | $27.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,720 | $6,727 | $38.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Anthropologists and Archeologists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Anthropologists and archeologists in San Diego earn 4% less than the California average ($77,230) and about the same as the U.S. average ($75,620). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $70,770.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $73,840 | $66,160 | $55,140 | $101,970 | 230 |
| California | $77,230 | $72,240 | $55,140 | $104,770 | 2,060 |
| United States | $75,620 | $70,770 | $49,050 | $108,060 | 8,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Anthropologists and Archeologists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $73,840, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $57,942 a year, or $4,828 a month and $2,229 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for anthropologists and archeologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $73,840 buys what about $65,995 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Anthropologists and Archeologists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 9 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($88,170).
- Sacramento$88,170
- San Jose$81,330
- San Francisco$80,790
- Santa Rosa$78,270
- San Diego$73,840
- Santa Cruz$73,790
- Los Angeles$72,160
- Oxnard$72,100
- Riverside$71,260
All Anthropologists and Archeologists salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for anthropologists and archeologists
Boston, MA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($104,900).
- Boston, MA$104,900
- Honolulu, HI$97,760
- Anchorage, AK$94,780
- Boise, ID$93,820
- Portland, OR$91,670
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Anthropologists and Archeologists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make an hour in San Diego?
$35.50 an hour on average, and $31.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level anthropologists and archeologists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the anthropologists and archeologists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $57,942 a year ($4,828 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,840. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do anthropologists and archeologists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($75,620).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3091; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.60, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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