Archaeologist salary in Australia: what the official data shows
If you are looking for a precise figure for an archaeologist salary in Australia, the short answer is that no official, current average or median is published. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Jobs and Skills Australia do not report weekly earnings for this occupation. This article explains what data is available, how archaeologist pay likely compares to national benchmarks, and what you can use to estimate your own salary.
What the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia tell us
The ABS collects earnings data by occupation in its Employee Earnings and Hours (EEH) survey, but the most recent release (May 2025) does not include a separate category for archaeologists. The occupation is part of the broader group ‘Other Social Professionals’ (ANZSCO 272499), for which no separate figure is published.
Jobs and Skills Australia maintains a profile for archaeologists (ANZSCO 272414). As of the 2021 Census, there were about 750 employed archaeologists, 58% female, with a median age of 37. The profile explicitly states that median weekly earnings are N/A – meaning the data is not available or not reliable enough to report. The average full-time hours worked per week for archaeologists is 41 hours, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours.
Comparing to national averages and medians
Without a direct figure, you can use the national benchmarks provided by the ABS. The site’s line is based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026:
- National full-time adult ordinary-time average: $2,083.70 per week, about $108,352 per year (× 52).
- Full-time median (from ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025): about $90,532 per year.
- All-employees median: about $74,100 per year.
Archaeologists are classified as Professionals. The EEH survey shows that for all Professionals, the average weekly total cash earnings in May 2025 were $2,049.60, and the median hourly earnings were $64.50. If an archaeologist works 38 hours per week (the standard used on this site), that hourly rate would equate to about $2,451 per week or $127,452 per year – but this is a rough estimate based on the broader category, not a specific figure.
State and territory variations
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 also provides full-time adult ordinary-time earnings by state. These can give you a sense of geographic differences that may affect archaeologist pay:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week (~$109,658 per year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 per week (~$106,137 per year)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 per week (~$106,064 per year)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 per week (~$102,450 per year)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 per week (~$115,825 per year)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 per week (~$96,008 per year)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 per week (~$103,173 per year)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 per week (~$119,090 per year)
These are averages across all full-time occupations. Archaeologists in the ACT, where many work for the federal government or cultural institutions, may earn above the national average. Those in Tasmania or South Australia may earn below.
The minimum wage and award coverage
From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week (38 hours), about $52,255 per year. Award minimums increased by 4.75% from that date. Many archaeologists are covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020 or enterprise agreements, which set higher minimum rates. If you are employed under an award, your base salary must meet or exceed the award rate for your classification.
Tax on an archaeologist salary
For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (reductions may apply for low-income earners). If you earn, say, $90,000 per year (close to the full-time median), your tax plus Medicare would be about $22,000, leaving around $68,000 after tax.
How to estimate your own archaeologist salary
Because no official figure exists, you can use the following approach:
- Check your employer type: public sector averages are higher than private sector (public full-time ordinary time $2,263.10 vs private $2,034.10 per week).
- Look at your state: use the state averages above as a rough guide.
- Consider your experience and role: senior archaeologists, heritage managers, or those in mining-related consulting may earn above the professional average.
- Use the Place a salary on the line tool to see how your pay compares to the national full-time average.
- Browse Job medians for related roles like historians or social professionals.
Conclusion
While there is no published average or median salary for archaeologists in Australia, you can benchmark against the national full-time average of $108,352 per year, the professional average of around $106,579 (based on $2,049.60 per week), and state variations. The lack of data reflects the small size of the occupation (750 workers). For a more precise estimate, consult your award or enterprise agreement, or use the site’s comparison tools.
How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the ABS surveys. For more context on pay across different roles, see Guides.