This is the second part (part 1 on field tech pay can be found here) of the yearly review of how much archaeologists make in the US (apologies to Canada, not enough data to include you). This is for the position of crew chief. Previous years findings can be seen here. Now, this is a tricky position to define as it tends to be the equivalent of a senior project manager or junior project manager (also called project officer, PI, etc. but is basically middle management). The actual title and use of Crew chiefs tend to be based in the western US. It is mainly used on survey crews when you have to break up a crew into small groups to cover more ground but don’t want to pay a middle manager to manage each small crew.
The data is based off of job postings on the websites archaeologyfieldwork.com and shovelbums.org. Methodology is discussed below e.g. possible flaws in the data, specifics on how the data was gathered, etc. Government based jobs will be dealt with in another post. So how much do senior techs make? In 2012, the average starting pay was $15.28 per hour. The average high pay was $17.00. The total lowest pay was $12 (not acceptable in my opinion) and the highest was $21.
Methodology and data is key to understanding these numbers:
My data comes from the job postings on the websites Shovelbums.org yahoo group and Archaeologyfieldwork.com, duplicate posts between the two and multiple postings of the same job were eliminated. However, it is hard to determine how many posting are just rolling calls to create lists of potential employees and job specific. Posting that were from the same company, posted less than two months apart, and listed the same requirements were eliminated as duplicates. However, if similar posts were advertised several months apart they were counted as different jobs on the assumption that after several months positions would have been filled and this is a new call for employees (even for the same project). Even if the job posting was for multiple jobs they are only counted as a single data point as most job postings do not list the number of openings. Because of the lack of standard names for this position requirements and duties were used to define this post, not names.
49 posts were examined and 10 had information on pay. The raw data can be accessed at tDAR here.
Basically, because this is not a standard position in commercial archaeology there is limited data. This does not mean that these numbers are off but that you should remeber these points:
- This is a snap shot of the whole field, individual jobs or employers could pay widely different ranges of pay
- There is a regional difference with those in the Eastern US earning less than those in the West, on average. Again, see point 1.
- High wages tend to be for specific projects with mandated federal wages, even for private companies, or in places like Alaska. They are the exception, not the rule.
- These positions are temporary Never Assume You Will be Able to Work All Year Long. $15 is great but not if you only work 2 months a year.
JAN
January 16, 2013
$15 is great? Assuming a paid lunch this amounts to $31,200 per year. If they are given a half hour (unpaid) lunch it is $29,250 per year and if it is an hour (unpaid) lunch it is $28,860. A rather low salary considering the level of education involved in my opinion. Also, from what I hear, these positions tend to expect “some” unpaid overtime and they tend to expect that all reports be written on your own time as well. (Can others confirm this?)
Doug Rocks-Macqueen
January 16, 2013
Drive time is probably the biggest unpaid work, followed by reports. Many projects are several hours drive from base (your home or hotel). Some pay for drive time (smiles), others don’t. What some might consider as a commute is not really that in archaeology. Usually, you have to pick up and take your equipment to each site each day or are required to check into the office before you go out to the field (meaning commute to office, then drive to the field). That can add up to 2-4 hours a day of unpaid work. Also, can’t stress enough that almost all of these jobs are temp- so no health insurance, no holiday, and many people are unemployed for months at a time.
Bethany Mathews
January 16, 2013
We are too kind to our field because we love what we do. Perhaps $15 to start with a company is reasonable. It’s livable if you’re used to the poverty of living on student loans and taking on part-time work. But to me, these rates all assume you are going to be the laziest field tech or crew chief ever.
Can someone explain under what circumstances you would write a report off the clock? In what country, what form of report, and how many working hours is this for you? A small report can take 40 hours to write. It’s completely unacceptable to work that much without pay.
Doug, any plans for comparison with similar field salaries? I just looked up geologist salaries and feel a little sick.
Doug Rocks-Macqueen
January 16, 2013
Comparison- did that for an article- quite depressing. Archaeology is one of bottom 10 lowest paying jobs (for new graduates). http://www.saa.org/AbouttheSociety/Publications/TheSAAArchaeologicalRecord/tabid/64/Default.aspx
Report off the clock- yes, all the time, mainly field notes/forms. You end up writing up forms/notes for projects and in the evening after work. While, it won’t be the final product a good portion of reports are actually done in the field through forms. Many crew cheifs and PMs spend their evenings writing, off the clock.
JAN
January 16, 2013
In the US (at least in New York, I would have to check elsewhere) it is illegal to not pay for someone’s travel time if they had to stop somewhere first. The clock starts when they get to the first business related site or you are driving a company vehicle.
It is also technically illegal to make someone write up reports or do work related activities without compensation. A lot of “industries” and academia get away with it, but all that it takes is for one person to complain to the Dept of Labor.
Doug Rocks-Macqueen
January 16, 2013
Can’t stress enough, illegal work practice happen in all “industries”. Though to be fair many companies are excellent employers and follow the laws. What more often happens is the pressure to keep a job. Almost, all archaeology is competitive bidding. Which means low bids win. As a crew chief or PM it is your job to insure the job comes in on or under budget. One way to do that is to write the reports off the clock, Yes, sure you can put in the time but then you go over budget. There are only so many times that happens before you lose your job. Companies may not force anyone to do it but it is the nature of the work.
Also, many people are ignorant of the work laws in their state (safety laws too, but that is a whole other post). Not paying for driving company vehicles may never cross their mind as illegal. Again, pressure to get very expensive work done at 1/10th the actual rate. I would say it is more of a cultural problem/education (archaeology programs in university prepare you for maybe 1/100th of what you will face and no business sense) for the unpaid work hours. Ask most managers and they would say yes, all time should be paid for but given the job conditions that won’t happen. Very similar to how salary men in Japan work.