Historians
Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed
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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
Median pay: $76,750/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +2.2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Historians?
The median pay for Historians is $76,750 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Historians?
Employment for Historians is projected to change +2.2% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Historians?
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Historians?
About 300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.