The Cultural Anthropologist Job Description
Cultural anthropologists seek to understand the various beliefs and customs that exist among societies throughout the world. The American Anthropological Association describes these social scientists as "trained observers" who know how to listen to others and take note of how groups of people act in certain situations. Only a small number---about 15,000 Americans in 2010--perform active research and studies, states the Association.
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Duties
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Cultural anthropologists study human behavior among different groups of people within the U.S. and around the world. They observe the various customs of different cultures, see how cultures differ and have underlying similarities in beliefs and values. Through direct observation by placing themselves in a group's natural surroundings or conducting one-on-one interviews, cultural anthropologists seek the reasoning behind a variety of cultural identities. These include marriage rituals, tattooing, face painting and body piercing. They seek an appreciation and understanding of the world around them by gathering, evaluating and interpreting data.
Qualifications
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Cultural anthropologists must be outgoing, healthy individuals who are not afraid to place themselves in unfamiliar surroundings and sometimes under harsh climates and strenuous working conditions. Good communication and writing skills are important to compile both written and oral reports on findings. Cultural anthropologists must be observant and analytical thinkers but also remain totally open to experiencing and learning about a culture different from their own. Extensive record keeping is a big part of the job.
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Work Environment
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Cultural anthropologists travel and perform research as a group or as individuals. Work often involves living in remote areas, participating in the rituals of a people and completely submersing oneself into a specific culture to learn the language, customs and ways. Many anthropologists are professors at universities or colleges and spend time teaching, researching and writing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Others work with museums, government agencies, research institutes, nonprofit groups, private corporations, world organizations and consulting firms.
Education
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Although a bachelor's degree in anthropology is sufficient to gain an entry-level position, a master's or Ph.D. is more common and allows for greater, more exciting responsibilities and opportunities, higher pay and job advancement, states the BLS. Since visiting obscure places of the world is common for anthropologists, study of foreign languages is helpful during travel.
Job Outlook and Pay
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Projections are for anthropologist job positions (along with archaeologists) to experience a 28 percent growth from 2008 to 2018, largely due to an increase in the consulting services industry, reveals the BLS. In May 2008, the bureau reports the average annual earnings of anthropologists as $53,910, although those who worked for the federal government reportedly earned an annual average of $88,302 in March 2009.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Reed Dance in Swaziland - tribal chiefs image by Elzbieta Sekowska from Fotolia.com
