What Do Anthropologists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for anthropologists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what anthropologists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Anthropologists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about anthropologists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Anthropologists all social scientists and related workers not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Anthropologists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Transportation Specialists
- Transportation Planners
- Transportation Analysts
- Fleet Coordinators
- Transportation Planning Managers
- Transportation Operations Specialists
- Fleet Specialists
- Airway Transportation Systems Specialists
- Anthropologists
- Transportation Safety Specialists
- Transport Specialists
- Fleet Planners
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for anthropologists can be found.
Best Industries for Anthropologists
Anthropologists Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 55.1%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 10.7%
- Scientific Research and Development Services: 8%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 4.6%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 4.3%
- Federal Government, Military: 3.4%
- Other: 13.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of anthropologists can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 55.1% of all jobs for anthropologists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Education and Hospitals (State Government) (10.7%), Scientific Research and Development Services (8%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (4.6%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (4.3%) and Federal Government, Military (3.4%).
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What Do Anthropologists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what anthropologists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work anthropologists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that anthropologists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for anthropologists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Anthropologists
Based on 20,662 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Anthropologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Planning | 3,119 | 15% |
| Project Management | 2,603 | 13% |
| Data Analysis | 1,873 | 9% |
| Supply Chain | 1,554 | 8% |
| Civil Engineering | 1,396 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Anthropologists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 8,609 | 42% |
| Management | 7,014 | 34% |
| Operations | 6,703 | 32% |
| Planning | 6,214 | 30% |
| Customer Service | 4,686 | 23% |
Based on 20,662 job postings related to anthropologists, transportation planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 15% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, data analysis, supply chain, civil engineering and auditing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for anthropologists, followed by management, operations, planning, customer service and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Planning | 3,119 | 15% |
| Project Management | 2,603 | 13% |
| Data Analysis | 1,873 | 9% |
| Supply Chain | 1,554 | 8% |
| Civil Engineering | 1,396 | 7% |
| Auditing | 1,377 | 7% |
| Urban Planning | 1,307 | 6% |
| Geographic Information Systems | 1,265 | 6% |
| Data Collection | 1,212 | 6% |
| Finance | 1,125 | 5% |
| Invoicing | 1,118 | 5% |
| Transportation Analysis | 1,070 | 5% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 1,019 | 5% |
| Warehousing | 1,016 | 5% |
| Accounting | 1,014 | 5% |
| Process Improvement | 1,005 | 5% |
| Regional Planning | 985 | 5% |
| Procurement | 980 | 5% |
| Intelligent Transportation Systems | 924 | 4% |
| Social Sciences | 900 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 8,609 | 42% |
| Management | 7,014 | 34% |
| Operations | 6,703 | 32% |
| Planning | 6,214 | 30% |
| Customer Service | 4,686 | 23% |
| Writing | 4,028 | 19% |
| Coordinating | 3,802 | 18% |
| Research | 3,748 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 3,518 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 3,303 | 16% |
| Leadership | 3,125 | 15% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,002 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 2,857 | 14% |
| Presentations | 2,440 | 12% |
| Sales | 2,303 | 11% |
| Scheduling | 2,065 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,994 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,805 | 9% |
| Multitasking | 1,796 | 9% |
| Good Driving Record | 1,703 | 8% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Anthropologists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Specialists | 9,054 | 34.9% |
| Transportation Planners | 3,609 | 13.9% |
| Transportation Analysts | 2,582 | 9.9% |
| Fleet Coordinators | 1,933 | 7.4% |
| Transportation Planning Managers | 900 | 3.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was transportation specialists, with 3,015 unique job postings. Transportation planners were second, with 1,033 postings, followed by transportation analysts, fleet coordinators and transportation planning managers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to anthropologists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation Specialists | 9,054 | 34.9% |
| Transportation Planners | 3,609 | 13.9% |
| Transportation Analysts | 2,582 | 9.9% |
| Fleet Coordinators | 1,933 | 7.4% |
| Transportation Planning Managers | 900 | 3.5% |
| Transportation Operations Specialists | 1,191 | 4.6% |
| Fleet Specialists | 962 | 3.7% |
| Airway Transportation Systems Specialists | 516 | 2% |
| Anthropologists | 903 | 3.5% |
| Transportation Safety Specialists | 373 | 1.4% |
| Transport Specialists | 713 | 2.7% |
| Fleet Planners | 746 | 2.9% |
| Automotive Fleet Supervisors | 426 | 1.6% |
| Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Drivers | 207 | 0.8% |
| Social Scientists | 257 | 1% |
| Transportation Technicians | 538 | 2.1% |
| Transportation Professionals | 247 | 1% |
| Directors of Transportation Planning | 258 | 1% |
| Maintenance Specialists | 250 | 1% |
| Fleet Managers | 295 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for anthropologists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for anthropologists.
How much do anthropologists make?
Anthropologists: How do you become one?
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