Ethnographer

As an ethnographer, you are a cultural detective, exploring the intricate tapestry of human experiences and behaviors. Your insights drive innovation, inform policy, and enhance user experiences across various sectors, making your role vital in understanding diverse communities in the UK and beyond.

Ethnographer

35

Social Sciences

AI IMPACT
AI CAN DO35%moving to60%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSC
STARTING PAY£22,000 - £28,000
RELATIONAL MOATPeople want a real person for this. That preference is the protection.
This job holds up well against AI
AI cannot yet do much of what this job actually involves, and people want a real person for this. That preference is the protection. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.

Career progression path

1FIRST STEPJunior EthnographerIn this entry-level role, you will assist senior ethnographers in conducting fieldwork and data collection, gaining hands-on experience in qualitative research methods.£22,000 - £28,000
2GAINING EXPERIENCEMid-level EthnographerAs a mid-level ethnographer, you will lead your own research projects, manage fieldwork teams, and present findings to clients or stakeholders.£30,000 - £40,000
3PEAK CAREERSenior Ethnographer/Research LeadIn this peak career role, you will oversee large-scale research initiatives, mentor junior researchers, and influence policy and practice at a strategic level.£50,000+
There is more than one way in

You do not have to go the university route to get here. There is also a vocational route that skips a degree entirely.

Careermash

Careermash: navigate your career path with real data. Explore career profiles, salary benchmarks, AI impact forecasts, and the qualifications you need to get there.


AI EXPOSURE = the share of a job's day-to-day tasks AI can already do today, from the same exposure engine used across this site (Anthropic labour market research, 2026, observed real-world AI usage by occupation). Higher means more exposed. It is a measurement of now, not a prediction. THE DOOR = how hard the job is to get into, grade A (easy) to E (extremely hard), from each career's published forecast (OpenAI, "The AI Jobs Transition Framework", Richmond 2026, CC BY 4.0). A card marked MOAT NOT YET CLASSIFIED has a real exposure score but no entry yet in our moat register, so we make no claim about what structurally protects it. Scorecard grades and verdicts are Careermash editorial judgment: we show forecasts as forecasts and own our conclusions. Salary and pathway figures are each career's own published profile. Careermash is a service provided by What School Ltd.

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