The Complete Guide to Becoming An Anthropology and Archeology Teacher, Postsecondary
What it really takes to teach anthropology and archeology at the college level: the actual day-to-day work, the real pay, the honest path in, and how to know if you should do it
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Thinking about teaching anthropology or archeology at a college? This is the real, unvarnished guide to the job — the pay, the path, and whether you should actually do it.
About this book
You love anthropology. You love archeology. You might even love the idea of standing in front of a lecture hall full of students, sharing what you know about human cultures and ancient societies. But do you know what the job of a postsecondary anthropology and archeology teacher actually looks like on a Tuesday morning in February? Do you know how much it pays at 29 versus 45? Do you know what a search committee is really looking for when you apply for your first tenure-track job?
This guide answers those questions with concrete numbers and real-world details, not vague encouragement. You will learn that a large share of first jobs in this field are adjunct positions paying $2,500-$4,000 per course with no benefits — and you will learn exactly what it takes to move past that into a full-time role. You will see the difference between teaching at a research university, a regional state school, and a community college, including how much time each actually requires for teaching versus research. You will also get a realistic assessment of the job market: roughly 400-500 anthropology and archeology faculty openings per year nationwide, against a steady stream of new PhDs, and how that shapes your strategy.
This is not a book about following your passion. It is a book about making an informed decision. By the end, you will know whether this career is a good fit for your values, your financial expectations, and your tolerance for a long, uncertain path. You will also know the adjacent roles — public archeology, cultural resource management, museum education, government research — that let you work in this field without the academic job market's ups and downs.
Reader Reviews
Donna Davis
★★★★★I was a grad student in anthropology seriously doubting whether I should continue toward a PhD, and this book hit me right where I needed it. The chapter on what you actually do all day was worth the price alone — I had no idea how much time goes into committee service and advising versus just teaching. I appreciated the real pay numbers too. It did not scare me off, but it sure made me think hard about my plan. If you are on the fence, read this before you start applying to doctoral programs.
Brian Flores
★★★★★What I liked most was that it treated me like an adult. No 'follow your passion' nonsense. The breakdown of adjunct pay versus tenure-track pay was sobering but necessary, and the chapter on breaking in gave me a concrete list of things to do starting now. I am a career-changer with a master's degree, and the comparison table of paths was exactly what I needed. It is not going to tell you what you want to hear; it will tell you what is true.