The creator of the Smoky Mountain Relic Room in Sevierville, Tennessee, Chase Pipes sells fossils, artifacts, and other objects while also educating customers on their origins. When paired with his podcast on YouTube, Chasing History, Chase Pipes encourages young people to choose archaeology as a career.

Entering archaeology as a professional requires involvement before applying to colleges. For example, local museums and heritage societies offer learning opportunities about the work they perform, and some are even hands-on. These events help prospective archaeologists solidify their field interest and find a specialty. Hands-on volunteering teaches essential skills and bolsters young professionals’ chances of finding jobs.

In high school, archaeology classes span STEM and the liberal arts. Future archaeologists benefit from scoring good grades in history and science courses, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Then, enter higher education as an archaeology or classics major. Some colleges may not offer dedicated archaeology departments. However, they will group the courses. A BA can help graduates find entry-level positions. Those with higher pay almost always require a master's degree alongside considerable field experience.