Linguistic Anthropologist: Career and Salary Facts

<h2 id="section---WhatIsALinguisticAnthropologist">What Is a Linguistic Anthropologist?</h2> <p>A linguistic anthropologist is an anthropologist who specializes in the study of language and communication methods. Linguistic anthropologists research different types of these methods, as well as how languages and cultures interconnect and influence each other. Many of these professionals are involved in the preservation of non-European, native languages, which they can learn by interacting with native speakers. </p> <p>Based on their research findings, anthropologists may publish academic papers, present their findings at conferences and/or advocate for certain types of government policies and programs. The following chart provides an overview of what you need to know about entering this field. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Degree Required</b> </td><td> Master's degree or doctoral degree is typical; bachelor's degree may be sufficient for entry-level jobs</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Education Field of Study</b> </td><td> Anthropology; applied linguistic anthropology</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Key Responsibilities</b> </td><td> Cultural studies; language research; field work; presentation of findings</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b> </td><td> 7%* for all anthropologists and archeologists</td></tr> <tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2021)</b> </td><td> $50,192** for all anthropologists</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatDoesALinguisticAnthropologistDo">What Does a Linguistic Anthropologist Do?</h3> <p>A linguistic anthropologist is a specialized type of social scientist who studies human languages from various cultures throughout time. Beyond the study of language, or linguistics, this field involves investigating how language intertwines with aspects of culture and society. This includes examining languages' role, history and evolution. You might study how a culture's language shapes society or how dysfunctional communication can lead to issues within a community. </p> <p>As a linguistic anthropologist, you might travel the globe to study different cultures and their languages. This could include living within unfamiliar cultures and climates for long periods of time, potentially in rugged conditions that require physical exertion. However, when not traveling, you'll generally work regular hours and spend the majority of your time performing research, writing reports and presenting your findings. You might split your time between research, writing and teaching by working as an anthropology instructor at a college or university. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatTypeOfDegreeDoINeed">What Type of Degree Do I Need?</h3> <p>Although some entry-level positions may be available to candidates with a bachelor's degree, you're likely to need a graduate degree for this field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). A master's degree may be sufficient for many linguistic anthropologist positions, but some higher-level teaching and research positions may require a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Many colleges and universities offer general anthropology programs that include courses in linguistic anthropology, but you can also find graduate and undergraduate programs that allow you to specialize in this subfield. For example, you can pursue a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Linguistic Anthropology. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatSalaryMightIExpect">What Salary Might I Expect?</h3> <p>The employment outlook for anthropologists varies by subfield. According to the BLS, employment for anthropologists and archaeologists was expected to grow by 7% from 2020-2030, which is slower than the national average for all occupations. The best job prospects are expected in business and consulting firms, especially cultural resource management firms. </p> <p>You might expect a base salary from $24,000 - $100,000, which was the annual earnings range for most anthropologists as reported by <i>PayScale.com</i> in June 2021. PayScale's median salary for all anthropologists was $50,192. For those who go into teaching, the BLS-reported median salary for postsecondary anthropology and archeology teachers was $89,220 as of May 2020. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3> <p>Instead of working as a linguistic anthropological researcher, you could also consider specializing in a different area of the field, such as biological or physical anthropology. They focus much more heavily on scientific aspects of human development, such as evolution and genetic variability, as well as how environmental factors like nutrition and climate have affected cultures and civilizations. Another option for individuals who are interested in anthropology is a job as an archivist in a museum. Archivists acquire, evaluate and maintain historical documents and artifacts, and they assist with the design of museum exhibitions. In most cases, you need a master's degree for a job as an archivist.</p>