Historians
SOC Code: 19-3093Also known as:
Architectural Historian, Collections Specialist, County Historian, Dance Historian, Dramatic Arts Historian
Median Annual Salary
$74,050
+2.2% growth (2024-2034)
300
Openings/Year
3K
Current Jobs
What Historians Do
Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
💰 Salary
$74,050
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+2.2%
As fast as average
🎓 Education
Master's degree
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
300
Projected average per year
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
3,400
Projected Employment (2034)
3,500
Related Careers
Anthropologists and archeologists
$64,910 •
+3.7% growth
Geographers
$97,200 •
-3.1% growth
History teachers, postsecondary
$81,500 •
-0.2% growth
Archivists
$61,570 •
+3.8% growth
Top Skills Required
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Speaking
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
- Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
- Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
- Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
- Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
- Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.
- Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.
- Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
Master's degree
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Master's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Historians
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a historians:
History, General
28,959 degrees awarded •
1,353 colleges offer this program
Public/Applied History
743 degrees awarded •
54 colleges offer this program
History, Other
540 degrees awarded •
45 colleges offer this program
Historic Preservation and Conservation, General
376 degrees awarded •
41 colleges offer this program
Medical/Health Humanities
352 degrees awarded •
29 colleges offer this program
History and Language/Literature
317 degrees awarded •
2 colleges offer this program
Military History
266 degrees awarded •
10 colleges offer this program
American History (United States)
242 degrees awarded •
9 colleges offer this program
History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
230 degrees awarded •
20 colleges offer this program
Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology
170 degrees awarded •
33 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Historians
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become historians.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do historians make?
The median annual salary for historians is $74,050.
What education do historians need?
Most historians positions require a master's degree.
Common degree programs include History, General, Public/Applied History, History, Other.
Is becoming historians a good career choice?
Historians is projected to see +2.2% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 300 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for historians?
Top colleges for aspiring historians include
University of California-Los Angeles, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Columbia University in the City of New York, Harvard University, Yale University.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to historians?
Historians may also be known as: Architectural Historian, Collections Specialist, County Historian, Dance Historian, Dramatic Arts Historian, Field Court Researcher, Film Historian, Genealogist, Genealogist Researcher, Health Historian, Historian, Historian Developer, Historic Architectural Resources Curator, Historic Interpreter, Historic Preservation Coordinator, Historic Preservationist, Historic Sites Registrar, Historical Interpreter, Historiographer, Medical Historian.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.