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Contract Archaeology Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AND Archeological field school. 2. Related Curriculum -- Degree in anthropology (with emphasis on ... Preparing and providing technical cultural resource content for contracts, environmental documents ...

This role is anticipated to last 6 months, with the possibility of extension pending contract options. Duties/Responsibilities * Conduct archaeological laboratory analysis of precontact and historic ...

Archaeologist

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$7.3K - $9.1K/mo

... for archaeology studies and project effects analysis for transportation projects pursuant to ... unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the ...

This role is anticipated to last 6 months, with the possibility of extension pending contract options. Duties/Responsibilities * Conduct archaeological laboratory analysis of precontact and historic ...

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Contract Archaeology information

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$32K

$73.2K

$112K

How much do contract archaeology jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract archaeology in the United States is $73,187.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,000.00 and $88,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is contract archaeology?

Contract archaeology, also known as cultural resource management (CRM) archaeology, involves the investigation and preservation of archaeological sites that may be affected by construction or development projects. Archaeologists work on behalf of government agencies, private companies, or developers to ensure compliance with heritage laws and regulations. The goal is to identify, document, and sometimes excavate sites before they are altered or destroyed, balancing development needs with the protection of cultural heritage.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract archaeologist?

To thrive as a Contract Archaeologist, you need a solid background in archaeology or anthropology, often with a relevant degree and fieldwork experience. Familiarity with GIS software, GPS devices, mapping tools, and compliance with cultural resource management (CRM) regulations is typically required. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, effective communication, and teamwork are essential soft skills in this role. These skills ensure accurate site assessments, regulatory compliance, and successful collaboration on projects with tight deadlines.

What are the typical challenges faced by contract archaeologists during fieldwork?

Contract archaeologists often encounter challenges such as working under tight project deadlines, adapting to varying weather conditions, and managing unexpected site discoveries. Fieldwork may require extended periods outdoors and travel to remote locations. Effective communication with project managers, construction crews, and regulatory agencies is crucial for ensuring compliance with legal and safety standards. Developing strong teamwork skills and maintaining meticulous documentation are essential for overcoming these common obstacles.
More about Contract Archaeology jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Archaeology jobs? Cities with the most Contract Archaeology job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Archaeology jobs? The most popular types of Archaeology jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Archaeology jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Archaeology jobs include:
Infographic showing various Contract Archaeology job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 67% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $73,187 per year, or $35.2 per hour.

$89K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

This position is located on the State Resource Conservation office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The mission of NRCS is to provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve their natural resources and environment.Qualifications:In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts.
Basic Requirement: GS-0193:
1. Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study that included 3 semester hours each in the following course areas:-History of archeology.-Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa.-Regional archeology, archeological cultures, or sites in a specific part or portion of a major geographical area to acquire or develop a foundation for regional specialization for professional development.-Theory and methods of archeology. Methods include, but are not limited to, typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating, and analytical techniques.-Archeological field school, to provide a basic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to research design implementation, field preservation techniques, and report preparation by participation in actual field work.
AND
Six semester hours of related course work in:-geography, geology, or cultural geography;-history:- historiography, or historical archeology;-environmental studies;-scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or-surveying;
AND
Archeological field school.
2. Related Curriculum -- Degree in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or a related discipline may be accepted as satisfying in full the educational requirements, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements in A.1 (including archeological field school).
OR
B. Combination of Education and Experience:
College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described above, plus appropriate technical experience or additional education.
OR
C. Experience: Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. The work experience must have included archeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archeological field school. Field experience should have included a combination of professional experience in archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. Applicants with such field experience should, after additional experience under the direction of a higher-grade archeologist, be able to demonstrate the ability to be a crew chief, directing the work of others at a single location as a part of a larger archeological project.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education listed below.
Specialized Experience Requirement
For the GS-12 grade level: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in federal service or comparable experience not gained through federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: preparing and providing technical cultural resource content for contracts, environmental documents, agreement documents, and state or tribal cultural resource agreements; delivering guidance, training, and technical assistance on cultural resource issues to field staff and field support personnel; supporting all aspects of cultural resource programs including documentation, coordination, and preparation of required reports.
  • Defining and evaluating major cultural resource and environmental concerns to support compliance with federal, state, tribal and agency requirements;
  • Preparing and providing technical cultural resource content for contracts, environmental documents, agreement documents, and state or tribal cultural resource agreements;
  • Delivering guidance, training, and technical assistance on cultural resource issues to field staff and field support personnel;
  • Supporting all aspects of cultural resource programs including documentation, coordination, and preparation of required reports.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Time-in-Grade Requirement: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. You must meet this requirement by the closing date of this announcement.Education:College Transcript: If qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your college transcript with course number and department (i.e., Bio 101, Math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g., special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college to ensure proper evaluation.
Your education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited toward qualifications. You may verify accreditation by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs website. We will verify your education accordingly.
Foreign Education: You must submit verification that education completed in a foreign institution, was recognized by an accreditation body accepted by the U.S. Department of Education. You must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. Your transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.
You may submit an unofficial copy of your transcript at the initial phase of the application process. However, if selected, you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to entering on duty. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for instructions on submitting transcripts.Employment Type: OTHER