Archaeologist salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

Archaeologist salary: what the data says

If you search for an archaeologist salary in Australia, you won’t find a neat figure from the Bureau of Statistics or the Fair Work Ombudsman. The occupation is small – just 750 people according to the 2021 Census – and earnings data is suppressed to protect privacy. That doesn’t mean we can’t make a reasonable estimate. By using broader benchmarks from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Jobs and Skills Australia profile, we can place an archaeologist’s pay on the national salary index.

What the official sources say

Jobs and Skills Australia lists archaeologists under ANZSCO 272414. The profile shows 750 employed, a median age of 37, and a 58% female share. But the median weekly earnings field reads ‘N/A’. That’s common for small occupations. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Employee Earnings report for August 2025 gives median weekly earnings for the ‘Professionals’ occupation group at $1,900. That’s the closest broad category. Archaeologists are professionals – they typically hold a university degree and often a postgraduate qualification.

Another angle is industry. Archaeologists work mainly in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (private consulting) and Public Administration and Safety (government heritage agencies). The ABS reports median weekly earnings for Professional, Scientific and Technical Services at $1,897, and for Public Administration and Safety at $1,837. Both are below the all-professionals median but still well above the national minimum.

Putting it on the salary index

The Salary Index sets 100 as full-time adult ordinary-time earnings: $2,083.70 per week, annualised $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Using the Professionals median of $1,900 per week gives an annualised $98,800 and an index of 91.2. That’s slightly below the national line. But remember: the Professionals median includes many lower-paid roles like social workers and librarians. Archaeologists often have specialised skills and may command higher pay, especially in consulting for mining or infrastructure projects.

If we use the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry index of 114.7 (annualised $124,300), that suggests experienced archaeologists in private practice could earn above the national line. Government archaeologists might be closer to the Public Administration index, which isn’t separately listed but can be inferred from state benchmarks. For example, the ACT index is 109.9, reflecting high public sector pay.

What about awards and minimums?

Archaeologists are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides set minimum rates for each classification level. Entry-level rates for a graduate scientist are above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (index 48.2). The award minimum for a Level 1 professional is around $30 per hour, depending on the classification. But most archaeologists earn above the award, especially those with experience or in senior roles.

State and sector differences

Where you work matters. The states page shows wide variation: WA index 106.9 ($115,825 annualised), NSW 101.2 ($109,658), while Tasmania is 88.6 ($96,008). Archaeologists in Western Australia, often working in mining-related heritage consulting, may earn significantly more than those in Tasmania. Private sector consulting firms in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry (index 114.7) tend to pay more than government roles, but government offers stability and superannuation.

How to interpret the index for archaeologist salary

The index is a simple ratio: your annual gross salary divided by the national line ($108,352) times 100. If you earn $100,000, your index is 92.3. If you earn $130,000, it’s 120. For archaeologists, a reasonable range might be index 90 to 120, depending on experience, sector, and state. The industries page shows that Mining (index 154.7) and Professional services (114.7) are high-paying, while Education and Training (105.5) and Health (97.8) are closer to the line.

Take-home pay and tax

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (tax-free threshold up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy), an archaeologist earning $100,000 would take home about $75,000 after tax and Medicare. Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026, so the employer contributes an additional $12,000 on that salary. Remember, the salary index uses gross ordinary-time earnings, not including super.

The bottom line

While there is no single archaeologist salary figure, the evidence points to a role that pays around the national average or slightly above, especially for experienced professionals in high-paying states or industries. Use the Salary Index to compare any offer you receive against the national line.

FAQs

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