upon graduating harvard, washburn accepted a position as associate professor of anatomy in columbia university college of physicians and surgeons, where he remained for eight years. from 1947–1958 he was a professor of anthropology at the university of chicago, for a time serving as department chair. he left the university of chicago for a professorship in university of california, berkeley, where he remained until his retirement in 1979. in 1975 the university elected him to the appointment of university professor, one of 35 such appointments granted since the position was first created in 1960.