by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Linguistics and Anthropology involves the study of A Program That Focuses On The Study Of The Anthropological, Historical, And Sociological Context Of Language With A Particular Emphasis On Language Use And Its Role In Shaping Cultural And Social Diversity. Includes Instruction In Applied Linguistics, Data Management, Field Methods, Language Heritage, Socialization, Structure, Linguistic Analysis, Linguistic Theory, And Multilingualism. Read on to learn the essential details every linguistics and anthropology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering linguistics and anthropology programs.
Nationwide, linguistics and anthropology draws strong interest, with 7 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Linguistics and Anthropology Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for linguistics and anthropology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of linguistics and anthropology programs later in this article.
Programs in Linguistics and Anthropology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations linguistics and anthropology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a linguistics and anthropology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a linguistics and anthropology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several linguistics and anthropology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7 |
People currently working in careers related to linguistics and anthropology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 41.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.0% |
| Master’s degree | 19.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.7% |
| Some college courses | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in linguistics and anthropology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in linguistics and anthropology opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to linguistics and anthropology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to linguistics and anthropology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,273,615 | 14.3% |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 262,916 | 6.6% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Salaries for linguistics and anthropology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers linguistics and anthropology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $88,437 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 2 different linguistics and anthropology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased linguistics and anthropology school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
