Government Jobs for Archaeologists: In India, For Freshers, Average Salary, Top Recruiters, Vacancy

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Archaeologists play an indispensable role in preserving our cultural heritage for future generations and uncovering the mysteries of the past. India boasts a thriving community of archaeologists, working to uncover and safeguard our rich historical heritage. Their collective efforts span diverse fields and regions, contributing to our understanding of the nation’s history.

In recent years, the field of archaeology in India has witnessed a significant resurgence, fueled by a growing awareness of the importance of preserving our historical heritage and the need to understand the roots of our civilisation. This resurgence has given rise to exciting opportunities for archaeologists in the country, particularly within the government sector.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the main government organisation responsible for the conservation and preservation of historical monuments in the country. It administers more than 3650 ancient monuments and sites of national importance with offices around the country in 34 cities. The sections below will discuss the various job opportunities for archaeologists across government institutes along with their average salaries for various specialisations and types.

Table of Contents

Who are Archaeologists
Jobs for Archaeologists
Government Jobs for Archaeologists

3.1 Experience Wise

3.2 Qualification Wise

3.3 City Wise

3.4 Sector Wise

Govt Archaeologists Jobs
Top Recruiters
Govt Jobs for Archaeologists: FAQs

Who are Archaeologists

Archaeologists are professionals who study and research the past by analysing and examining the physical remains, structures and artefacts of ancient civilisations, cultures and societies. They excavate, interpret and document archaeological sites to understand and reconstruct human history.

They help in understanding the evolution and gain insights about the past.

They can specialise in various subfields, such as classical archaeology which focuses on the civilisations of ancient Rome and Greece, underwater archaeology which explores submerged sites and more. They often publish their findings in academic journals and reports contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of archaeology.

Jobs for Archaeologists

The basic job of an archaeologist is to study and analyse past human societies and cultures by examining physical remains, structures and artefacts. They shed light on human history and contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations. Excavation, documentation, analysis, dating and interpretation are some of the major activities performed by archaeologists.

Tabulated below is the job description of archaeologists along with their average salaries for each specialisation.

Archaeologist Profile	Job description	Average Annual Salary (INR)
Classical Archaeologist	Focus on the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome, studying their architecture, culture and more.	3 L
Historical Archaeologist	Investigate recent historical periods, working on the sites from the past few centuries.	3 L
Underwater Archaeologist	Study submerged sites, prehistoric settlements and shipwrecks.	5 L
Ethno Archaeologist	Study past human activities by understanding the lives of modern-day hunter-gatherers.	5 L
Field Archaeologist	Conduct excavations and fieldwork to study archaeological sites in the original context.	1.8 - 2.2 L

Government Jobs for Archaeologists

Government jobs for archaeologists offer unique opportunities to explore and preserve the country’s rich cultural heritage. They are responsible for excavating, documenting and conserving historical sites and artefacts. Government archaeologists also promote tourism and educate the public about India’s ancient civilisation.

Some of the top government jobs for archaeologists across various parameters along with their average salaries are discussed below.

Experience Wise

Archaeologists with significant years of experience can earn up to INR 8 LPA in the public domain. The experience-wise salary for archaeologists in the government sector is mentioned in the table below.

Experience Years	Average Annual Salary (INR)
1 - 5 years	4 L
6 - 10 years	5 L
10 - 15 years	8 L
16 - 20 years	12 L
20 years & above	18 L

Qualification Wise

There are archaeology courses at different levels that can be considered by candidates aspiring to become archaeologists. The following table highlights the salaries that archaeologists can expect in the government sector according to different education levels.

Qualification	Average Annual Salary (INR)
BA Archaeology	2.5 L
BA Ancient History	3 - 5 L
MA Archaeology	6 L
PhD Archaeology	4 - 8 L

City Wise

New Delhi is the top city for archaeologists in India with an average salary between INR 5 to 7 LPA. A change can be seen in the salaries of archaeologists in different cities. The following table highlights the salaries of archaeologists from some of the top Indian cities.

City	Average Annual Salary (INR)
New Delhi	5 - 7 L
Bangalore	5.62 L
Mumbai	5 L
Hyderabad	5 L
Chennai	2.56 L

Sector Wise

The salary of an archaeologist can vary significantly based on the sector they choose to work in. Tabulated below is the salary of archaeologists in the government and private sector.

Sector	Average Annual Salary (INR)
Government Sector	6 L - 9 L
Private Sector	5 L - 8 L

Govt Archaeologists Jobs

Archaeologists can look forward to studying and investigating past human civilisations and culture in various government jobs. Some of the top govt jobs for archaeologists along with their average salaries are tabulated below.

Job	Offering Institute	Average Salary (INR)
Archaeological Officer	TNPSC	36,200 - 1.14 L
Deputy Superintendent Epigraphist	ASI	56,100 - 1.77 L
Deputy Superintendent Archaeological Engineer	Ministry of Culture/ASI	56,100 - 1.77 L
Director General	ASI	67,000 - 79,000
Archival Associate/Assistant	ASI	-

Top Recruiters

Archaeologists can find opportunities in different types of government institutes. Some of the top recruiters are as follows.

Name of the Institute	Location
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)	New Delhi
National Museum	New Delhi
State Archaeology Departments	Across the states
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)	Bangalore
Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)	Bangalore

Govt Jobs for Archaeologists: FAQs

Ques. Is archaeology a government job?

Ans. Archaeology can be a government job if candidates work in government institutes like the ASI and ICHR or in related research or heritage preservation roles.

Ques. Is ASI a government job?

Ans. Yes, working in the ASI is considered a government job.

Ques. What job will I get with a degree in archaeology?

Ans. After completing a degree in archaeology one can opt for job profiles like Heritage Manager, Exhibition Officer, Museum Curator, Professor, Heritage Manager, Documentation Specialist and more.

Ques. Are there archaeology courses in IIT?

Ans. Yes, there are archaeology courses at IIT, especially at IIIT Gandhinagar which has also opened an archaeology research unit on campus.

Ques. Is there a scope for archaeology in India?

Ans. The scope of Archaeologists in India is very wide. From government institutes like ASI to private museums, archaeologists can find opportunities. They can also work as lecturers in universities.

Ques. Which field is best for archaeologists?

Ans. Anthropology and archaeology are considered the best fields for archaeologists.

Ques. Is archaeology in demand?

Ans. The demand for archaeology in India varies but generally has limited career opportunities.

Ques. What are the top institutes recruiting Archaeologists?

Ans. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) are the top institutes that hire archaeologists.

Ques. What are the qualifications required to become an Archaeologist?

Ans. The minimum academic qualification for becoming an Archaeologist is a bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, history or any other related streams.

Ques. Name some top colleges offering courses in archaeology.

Ans. BHU, Andhra University, University of Calcutta, Panjab University and Patna University are some of the top colleges offering courses in archaeology.