Last Updated By Harleen Kaur on 01 Sep, 2022
Anthropologists usually entail studies of different societies' social and political organisation, marriage patterns and customs, basic necessities and economic patterns, and religious beliefs. They conduct research on topics such as the physiology of speech, the structure and operation of languages, social and cultural influences on speech and writing, nonverbal communication, how language evolves over time, and how they differ from one another. Anthropologists study the prehistory and history of societies and cultures. Anthropologists are the people who study different aspects of human experience. They make use of history and archaeology to study how human groups lived hundred and thousand years ago and what was important in those ages. They conduct research and study about what makes up our genes, biological bodies, bones and health. Apart from this, anthropologists also compare humans with other animals like monkeys and chimpanzees to see what we have in common with them and what makes human unique.
Anthropologists conduct extensive research on genetic traits to better understand human evolution in areas such as culture, language, social behaviour, eating habits, literature, arts, and music. They provide answers to questions like how humans adapt to environmental changes and how humans evolved from animals. Because there are many areas of anthropology, each work differs within its domain based on the requirements.
Individuals who choose a career as an anthropologist must conduct extensive research on their process in order to discover specific artifacts or other physical evidence. They are responsible for developing various processes and trying to diagnose methodologies during the research and findings process in order to excel the scope of anthropology for the specific section. Developing is an important part of their job roles and responsibilities, whether it's developing methodologies, procedures, samples, or anything else
One of the most important aspects of their job is researching the project they are working on. Individuals who choose a career as an anthropologist must constantly study and stay current at all stages of the project. They are in charge of researching the project, its scope in human development, limitations, the project's efficiency, and the project's consequences. From start to finish, they must analyse every aspect of the research and ensure that the resources used in the project are optimised to the greatest extent possible
Another key job responsibility of an anthropologist involves teaching and guiding the students with their best interests and research around anthropology. Various anthropologists work as professors in universities, providing students with in-depth experience and understanding of anthropology as a subject, as well as advancing its application in career development. They also instruct and train students who want to be anthropologists. Anthropology professors teach courses in linguistics, physical anthropology, archaeological anthropology, and cultural anthropology
To fulfill certain requirements of the project they're working on, anthropologists must consult with other professionals, including other anthropologists. For instance, several research scientists involved in the same project as the biological anthropologists must be met and consulted. To obtain in-depth knowledge about the history or evolution of a specific language for a specific section of the society, linguistic anthropologists are obligated to speak with translators, language experts, and professors. People who choose to become anthropologists must also communicate with those who specialise in physical anthropology, linguistics, and archaeology
Researching and studying their projects is one thing, but if the work is not published, it is of no use. Publishing is a crucial component of anthropological research and study. The task of publishing anthropologists' research and work for anthropology and its many subfields, including biology, culture, linguistics, and archaeology, is their responsibility
To become an anthropologists candidate must have passed class 12th or equivalent examination with science/ arts stream. However, it is advised that the candidates should take up science stream as most of the colleges in India offer B.Sc in Anthropology and it involves a lot of science-oriented subjects.
Subject Combination - Any
Eligibility -
Step 1: Completing 10 + 2
After completing their 10+2 education, students must understand how to pursue a career in anthropology in India. Here, we'll outline a few steps you can take to become an anthropologist after high school. The students must successfully complete their 10+2 exams with an overall grade of 50% or an equivalent from an acknowledged board.
Step 2: Entrance Exam
The following are some crucial steps to understanding how to become an anthropologist. Entrance exams are administered by a number of universities and colleges to determine admission. To be enrolled in the appropriate colleges and universities, students must take entrance exams. Based on a student's performance on the entrance exam, admission is granted. Other colleges and universities offer admission based on a cut-off percentage for the 10+2 subject. The most commonly taken entrance exams are listed below.
Popular Entrance Examinations
GATA | MUET |
AU CET | CUET |
Step 3: Pursuing Bachelor
Various universities across the country offer admission to bachelor's programmes through a variety of courses. Students must meet the eligibility requirements of the universities to which they wish to apply. The popular bachelor's degree programmes in anthropology offered in India are listed below.
Courses for Undergraduate Anthropologists in Majors
BSc (Bachelor of Science) Specialisations | BA (Bachelor of Arts) Specialisations |
Anthropology | Anthropology |
Archaeology | Sociology |
Museology | Archival Studies and Manuscriptology |
Step 4: Pursuing Post Graduation
Students can choose from a variety of career paths after earning a bachelor's degree. The two well-liked options that will make it simple for you to launch your desired career are listed below.
Option 1: Candidates who have completed a bachelor's degree programme may continue on to a master's degree programme without taking a break from the academic year. They can begin working in the sector in an entry-level position after completing a master's degree programme in the relevant specialisation.
Option 2: The candidates may begin employment in the industry in an entry-level position following successful completion of a bachelor's degree programme. He or she can further choose to enrol in a master's degree programme after gaining experience through one or two years of employment in the industry.
Popular Anthropologist Masters Course List
MA (Master of Arts) Specialisations | MSc (Master of Science) Specialisations |
Anthropology | Anthropology |
Sociology | Sociology |
Archival Studies and Manuscriptology | Museology |
– | Archaeology |
Step 5: Programme for Doctorates
After earning a master's degree in the related field, one must pursue an MPhil in order to work in academia or teach the related subjects in colleges. A candidate needs to have a PhD in the field if they want to work with international development organisations.
Anthropologists do different types of research in the field and find the right job according to their career interest and experience. Listed below are some of the popular anthropologist job profiles:
Anthropologists: Their job role is to study the origin, physical, social and cultural development behaviour of mankind.
Scientists: Many anthropologists work as scientists in the R&D development of different organisations and their departments.
Education/Academic Anthropologists: Academic anthropologists work as professors/ teachers in higher educational institutions and universities. Their job role is to teach various modules of anthropology. Some Anthropology professors specialize in a particular subject of anthropology and they are the ones who teach either at masters or doctoral level.
Field Investigator: Their job role is to perform research and surveillance for a corporation or individual clients. A field investigator performs various interviews and observes a given situation to determine the nature of the events for a client.
Economic Anthropologists: They tend to research and explain the human economic behaviour and study how human societies provide goods and services that make life possible. The need for economic anthropologists is growing day by day due to the globalisation of the world economy.
Medical Researcher: Medical researchers help develop new medical breakthroughs that will benefit human society by studying the different aspects of humans and human behaviour. Their job involves a great deal of research and performing clinical trials.
Anthropologists can be found in a surprising array of fields and careers. Anthropologists can be found in all levels of government, educational institutions etc. Listed below are some of the popular employment opportunities for anthropologists:
Top companies that recruit anthropologists are as follows:
The first thing they should know about how to become an anthropologist is the skills required to become an anthropologist. Some of the necessary skills are listed below.
Since the nature of job prospects is very diverse, the salary of an anthropologist can vary tremendously. The initial salary package in the field of anthropology may not be very lucrative as compared to other professions. The salary package and incentives go on increasing as per a candidate's experience in the industry.
Job Profile | Starting Salary per annum (in INR) | Mid-Level Salary per annum (in INR) | Senior Level Salary per annum (in INR) |
Anthropologists | Rs. 2,00,000 - Rs. 3,00,000 | Rs. 3,00,000 - Rs. 4,00,000 | Rs. 4,00,000 and above |
Note: The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual and company to company.
For anthropologists in the nation, both at the federal and state levels, there is the Anthropological Survey of India. Anthropologists are employed by a large number of government research institutions in India. Additionally, one has the option of joining groups like WHO, UNESCO, and UNICEF. Individuals may also consider starting their careers in industries like art galleries, curators, publishing houses, NGOs, archives, museums, libraries, and many others. It is anticipated that the number of these non-academic jobs will continue to increase.
Teachers and researchers are the two occupations that anthropologists hold most frequently. Anthropologists are employed for research by government agencies like the Archaeological Survey of India, the Planning Commission, and international organisations like the United Nations, UNESCO, or UNICEF. Candidates begin their anthropology careers as soon as they enrol in college. Many universities and colleges give students the chance to collaborate on research projects with their professors as research assistants. In comparison to other professions, the employment of anthropologists is anticipated to be average.
Following is a list of the most popular career paths:
Research Intern: To learn the fundamentals and gain experience in the field, one can work as a research intern for a senior anthropologist or professor. Interns' daily tasks include gathering data as needed, analysing and studying the data, and then identifying a solution or overarching pattern for the issue.
Associate Professor: Students who are studying anthropology are taught and trained by assistant professors. They work in universities and research the subject's academics. Some people have contract jobs, while others have permanent employment. They are in charge of imparting knowledge on a fundamental level and preparing students to become accomplished anthropologists.
Analysis Intern: Data analysis trainees begin their careers in anthropology while working as research interns, either under a professor or an independent anthropologist, because anthropology is a field of in-depth research with relevance to society and humanity, at both a collective and individual level.
Candidates who are planning to take up anthropology at a degree level must have adequate knowledge about the respective field as it is a vast subject encompassing elements of other disciplines and different methodologies. There are thousands of books in this field. But a big question is where to begin from? Compiled below are some of the relevant and popular anthropological reads:
Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.
A candidate must complete Class 12th study in Science/ Arts stream followed by a bachelor's degree in Anthropology to pursue a career as an Anthropologist.
A candidate with a bachelor's degree in Anthropology can pursue a career as an Anthropologist. However, a masters degree offers better opportunity and pay scale to a candidate with a degree in Anthropology.
Anthropology and the Colonial Encounter by Talal Asad, Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault, How to Read Ethnography by Huon Wardle and Paloma Gay Blasco, The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Society, Beyond Culture by Edward T. Hall are some of the books related to Anthropology.
Anthropologists is a satisfying career option that helps them understand different people and cultures. The employment opportunity is in various sectors like the government sector, private sector, NGO and educational sector.
NIMS University, Jaipur, Hansraj College, Delhi, Bidhannagar College, Kolkata, Dimoria College, Kamrup, Sree Chaitanya College (SCC), Haldia, Jawaharlal Nehru College (JN COLLEGE BOKO), Kamrup are some of the colleges that offer B.Sc in Anthropology course.
Payscale of an Anthropologist depends on the job roles and years of experience. The pay scale ranges from Rs 2.00 to Rs 4.00 Lakhs per Annum.
UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO are some of the top companies that recruit anthropologists.
An Anthropologist can work as a scientist in an R & D department, they can work as professors/ teachers in higher educational institutions and universities. Field investigator, Economic Anthropologists and Medical Researcher are some of the other job roles of an Anthropologist.
Any candidate who have completed Class 12th studies in Arts/ Science Stream and a degree in Anthropology can pursue a career as an Anthropologist
An Anthropologist is a professional who studies and researches human genes, biological bodies, bones and health. They compare human groups who lived a hundred and a thousand years ago. They compare humans with other animals and explore what makes humans unique.