Respond now to the advisory report on freelance hourly rates in archaeology
The advisory report contains advice on fair pay freelance hourly rates, partly based on a survey among freelancers in archaeology.

You can respond until November 12. You can find the form here.

Below you will find more information about the report and its elements.

The report specifically addresses the so-called freelance markup. These are elements that additionally apply to self-employed professionals. Think of non-billability as well as professional and business expenses. The calculation is performed in two steps. First, the markup for non-billable hours is calculated over the reference income per hour to be worked. This results in the reference income per billable hour. Subsequently, the markup for professional and business expenses is calculated over that amount.

Non-billability
Markup for non-billable time (based on 63% billable hours) 61.9%.

Professional and business expenses
Disability insurance provision 13.0%; Retirement provision 12.0%; ZVW contribution 4.85%; General business expenses 13.0%; Subject-specific business expenses 5.8%; Holiday allowance 8.0%; Total markup for professional and business expenses 56.65%.

About the Archaeology sector table
The Archaeology sector table, which took the initiative for the survey, consists of archaeologists, representatives of excavation companies, professional organizations, labor intermediaries, and educational institutions. The sector table conducts its own research and commissions research, performs analyses, and develops guidelines and tools: concrete products for practical application. More information can be found here.

Job classification system and grading of reference positions
Following a public consultation in November 2024, the archaeology job classification system including fair pay salaries was established. These salaries for employees in the job classification system also form the general basis for freelance hourly rates. Service providers reported practical problems in fitting in the specific reference positions of the developed system. To resolve these issues, EVZ found an option, starting with existing collective labor agreements (CAOs) that work with generally recognized job evaluation systems. The EVZ grading shows which salary scale, including in existing CAOs, should apply given the archaeology reference positions in the Archaeology job classification system.

How safe is it to work in the archaeology sector? On behalf of the Archaeology sector table, we are conducting a sector-wide survey into experiences with social safety, physical safety, work culture, and reporting behavior. You can respond until November 1.

Goal and results
With the support of Femke Tomas, lecturer-researcher at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, we want to better understand:
– where the bottlenecks are;
– in which situations people feel less safe;
– which factors increase risks;
– what organizations and the sector can do to improve safety.

The results will be used for a report and as a basis for a future guideline/toolkit for the archaeology sector. The findings cannot be traced back to individual persons.

Archaeology Sector Table

The Archaeology sector table, which took the initiative for the survey, consists of archaeologists, representatives of excavation companies, professional organizations, labor intermediaries, and educational programs. The sector table conducts its own research and commissions research, makes analyses, and develops guidelines and tools: concrete products for practical application. More information can be found here.

Please complete the survey
Do you work or study in archaeology, are you a volunteer, a freelancer, or have you been active in the field in recent years? Then your experience is relevant – even if you have not experienced any incidents yourself.

Completing the survey below takes approximately 15-20 minutes. Sharing it within your own network is appreciated!

Archaeology Sector Table continues dialogue with Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
On September 4, 2025, a letter was sent from the sector table to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science regarding cooperation in the (legal) anchoring of the fair pay Archaeology job classification system. On February 26, 2026, a delegation met with the Ministry and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.

In this letter and during this meeting, the possibility of anchoring a single collective labor agreement (CAO) for archaeology within the Heritage Act was discussed. The Ministry is hesitant about legislation, primarily due to the regulatory burden, and wishes to explore other options for anchoring first. They see possibilities for achieving a universally binding collective labor agreement in the archaeology sector. In this regard, the Ministry is willing to play an informative role. Additionally, the Ministry stated that it is and remains in consultation with other authorities and ministries to implement fair pay in their assignments and tenders within archaeology.

According to the sector table, it is doubtful whether archaeologists at government bodies, (public) organizations, and multidisciplinary firms such as engineering agencies can or would want to fall under a sector-specific collective labor agreement. The table welcomes further information on this matter.

Archaeology Sector Table continues dialogue with Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
On September 4, 2025, a letter was sent from the sector table to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science regarding cooperation in the (legal) anchoring of the fair pay Archaeology job classification system. On February 26, 2026, a delegation met with the Ministry and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.

In this letter and during this meeting, the possibility of anchoring a single collective labor agreement (CAO) for archaeology within the Heritage Act was discussed. The Ministry is hesitant about legislation, primarily due to the regulatory burden, and wishes to explore other options for anchoring first. They see possibilities for achieving a universally binding collective labor agreement in the archaeology sector. In this regard, the Ministry is willing to play an informative role. Additionally, the Ministry stated that it is and remains in consultation with other authorities and ministries to implement fair pay in their assignments and tenders within archaeology.

According to the sector table, it is doubtful whether archaeologists at government bodies, (public) organizations, and multidisciplinary firms such as engineering agencies can or would want to fall under a sector-specific collective labor agreement. The table welcomes further information on this matter.