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Social Sciences · Anthropology Rank #6 of 178

Anthropologyat University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Graduates earn $32,778/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Anthropology average. Base-case 10-year earnings $593K; scenarios range from $534K to $601K depending on AI disruption.

Seattle, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
46 AVERAGE
47
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,778
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$593K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Washington

Your decision to explore Anthropology at UW-Seattle places you in a program renowned for its rigor and situated in a dynamic urban environment. The department's strong faculty and deep research focus, particularly in areas like medical anthropology, indigenous studies, and human-computer interaction, naturally connect graduates with diverse opportunities. Seattle's unique ecosystem, with its leading tech companies, global health organizations like the Gates Foundation, and numerous non-profits, highly values the qualitative research, cultural competency, and critical thinking skills you'll develop. Graduates often find roles in UX research, policy analysis, program management, or specialized research within health and social sciences. To best leverage this excellent foundation, actively seek interdisciplinary experiences, perhaps through a minor or internships in data science or public health, to directly apply your nuanced understanding of human behavior to emerging fields and mitigate the noted AI risk.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$534K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$593K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple11.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$601K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Washington's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Anthropology graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 9,600 openings/yr
$100,590/yr
High
3
Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$95,770/yr
High
4
Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
+2.4% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$84,290/yr
High
5
Forensic science technicians
+12.8% 10-yr growth · 2,900 openings/yr
$67,440/yr
Moderate
6
Anthropologists and archeologists
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 800 openings/yr
$64,910/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Anthropology

How University of Washington stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Southern Methodist University
TX · Private nonprofit
44
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
1.6x
ROI
Monmouth University
NJ · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
1.4x
ROI
Southern New Hampshire University
NH · Private nonprofit
43
DW Score
$42K
1-yr earn
5.4x
ROI
Fordham University
NY · Private nonprofit
33
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
1.2x
ROI
Also at University of Washington

Other top programs at University of Washington

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Washington, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Anthropology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Anthropology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Anthropology at University of Washington

What does a 46/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Anthropology at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

At 46/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Anthropology programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Anthropology at University of Washington-Seattle Campus?

The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is University of Washington-Seattle Campus one of the best schools for Anthropology?

Among 178 Anthropology programs, University of Washington-Seattle Campus's #6 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.