Archaeology Subsector
Are you an archaeologist? Or are you someone who pays archaeologists for their work? If so, it is important to consider fair pay. What constitutes appropriate compensation for the work archaeologists perform, and what conditions should accompany it? To ensure these professionals receive what they deserve, fairPACCT has convened the Archaeology chain table.
Archaeologists deserve better
Archaeologists work for various types of government organizations and companies. Their work is multifaceted. Exploration, selection, fieldwork, laboratory work, research and interpretation, reporting, depot management, exhibitions.
This work requires a higher professional (HBO) or university education. However, a degree alone is not enough to be recognized as an archaeologist. To be permitted to excavate and conduct research independently, registration based on years of work experience and additional training is required. As a result, many archaeologists remain stuck in entry-level positions or leave the profession entirely. This must change. FairPACCT wants archaeologists to be appropriately compensated and thereby encouraged to develop within their field. It is relevant to note that the Council for Culture has advised the introduction of a national collective labor agreement (CAO) for archaeological excavation companies.
About the chain table
The chain table was established in March 2022 and consists of ten members. These include archaeologists, representatives of excavation companies, professional organizations, labor intermediaries, and educational institutions. Led by independent chair Henk Koster, they explore opportunities to stimulate fair pay within this field.
The chain table conducts its own research and commissions studies, performs analyses, and develops guidelines and tools: concrete products for practical application. In doing so, examples from the cultural sector and comparable industries are utilized. The chain table began with a labor market monitor among workers and a sample study of roles and salary scales for archaeologists at government organizations and companies.
Tools & downloads
Archaeology Job Framework
This job framework distinguishes sixteen different roles within archaeology. Each role is described in a profile detailing associated tasks, responsibilities, skills, and qualifications. Each position includes a valuation and salary table, as well as a list of synonyms. The job framework is based on two comparable collective labor agreements and provides clear guidance for transparent and equitable job evaluation. It is applicable to archaeological excavation companies, engineering firms, municipalities, and regional implementation services, among others.
Appendices:
– Profiles of sixteen reference roles within archaeology, with associated tasks, responsibilities, skills, and qualifications.
– A list of common alternative titles for the reference roles.
– The unofficial job classification system, developed in 2023. This served as the foundation for the further development of the current job classification system.
Standard Scheme for Secondary Employment Conditions
This document explains what the Fair Practice Code and fair pay specifically mean for the secondary employment conditions of workers in archaeology. It covers provisions beyond salary, such as pension insurance, disability insurance, and travel and study costs, as well as provisions required for work outside regular hours and at off-site locations.
Appendices:
– Note on laws and regulations regarding contract types and duration.
– Note on laws and regulations regarding the position of freelancers.
Note on Safety and Working Conditions
Working in hazardous locations or with dangerous substances and/or objects is common in archaeology. The Note on Safety and Working Conditions provides clarity on the requirements that may be set for physical safety and working environments. It explains which laws and regulations already apply to field workers and their employers. With a view to safe working practices, the note also contains recommendations for additional safety packages in archaeology.
Salary tables and indicative freelance rates for archaeologists
Here you will find the tables with fair pay salaries for the sixteen reference roles in the archaeology job framework through 2025. These will soon be indexed through 2026. An indication of freelance rates is also provided.
Calculation tool
A calculation tool featuring fair pay salaries and an indication of freelance rates and salaries for archaeologists will be released soon.