by our College Data Analytics TeamCultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection (CIP 43.0123) is part of the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field of study, alongside 21 related programs, but no U.S. college reported cultural/archaelogical resources protection graduates to IPEDS in the latest year. Graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing, rising to $53,914 after four years.
A degree in Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection explores Cultural/archaelogical Resources Protection. A Program Focusing On The Application Of Law Enforcement Principles And Techniques To The Protection Of Cultural Resources And The Investigation Of Related Crimes. Includes Instruction In Cultural Resources Law, Archaeological Standards Of Value, Site Damage Assessment, Evidence Collection, Surveillance Techniques, Investigative Techniques, Case Management And Preparation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
O*NET rates Active Listening the most important skill for jobs related to cultural/archaelogical resources protection, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Law and Government, English Language and Public Safety and Security. The most important abilities are Inductive Reasoning, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cultural/archaelogical resources protection, at 29.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 29.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.0% |
| Some college courses | 17.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.9% |
| Master’s degree | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection, with an average median salary of $62,804; the strongest outlook belongs to Detectives and Criminal Investigators, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Investigator, Identification Officer, Criminalist and Crime Scene Investigator (CSI).
The occupation related to cultural/archaelogical resources protection with the most projected jobs is Police Identification and Records Officers, at 532,882.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Police Identification and Records Officers | 532,882 | 7.1% |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 469,816 | 14.5% |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | 421,320 | 11.8% |
| Intelligence Analysts | 313,116 | 11.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 290,410 | 11.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | 148,156 | 2.6% |
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | 52,113 | 12.0% |
Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection graduates earn a median $40,221 one year after completing their program, $53,914 after four years and $50,331 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,221 |
| 4 years | $53,914 |
| 5 years | $50,331 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to cultural/archaelogical resources protection is Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $91,449.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary | $91,449 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $71,252 |
| Intelligence Analysts | $65,483 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $64,492 |
| Police Identification and Records Officers | $61,847 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $52,907 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other | $32,201 |
Cultural/Archaelogical Resources Protection has 13 similar majors in the Law Enforcement & Firefighting field, which together award 100,497 degrees a year; the largest are Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (41,501), Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (26,299) and Criminal Justice/Police Science (20,024). Browse all Law Enforcement & Firefighting majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 41,501 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration | 26,299 |
| Criminal Justice/Police Science | 20,024 |
| Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other | 4,765 |
| Corrections | 3,838 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2,370 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management | 679 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services | 497 |
| Law Enforcement Investigation and Interviewing | 310 |
| Corrections Administration | 87 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.