### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Historians Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			HistoriansHistorians may engage with the public through educational programs and presentations.							
						Quick Facts:     Historians2023     Median Pay
            						$72,890     per year
										$35.04     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    3,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    3% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    100What Historians Do
                                                
                        
                        
Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Historians must travel to carry out research. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Historian
                                                
                        
Historians typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Those with a bachelor’s degree in history may qualify for some entry-level positions, but most will find jobs in different fields.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for historians was $72,890 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of historians is projected to grow							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 300 openings for historians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for historians.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of historians with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about historians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Historians Do 
            

			HistoriansHistorians often study and preserve archival materials.			
Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.
Duties
Historians typically do the following:
Gather historical data from various sources, including archives, books, and artifacts
Analyze and interpret historical information to determine its authenticity and significance
Trace historical developments in a particular field
Engage with the public through educational programs and presentations
Archive or preserve materials and artifacts in museums, visitor centers, and historic sites
Provide advice or guidance on historical topics and preservation issues
Write reports, articles, and books on findings and theoriesHistorians conduct research and analysis for governments, businesses, individuals, nonprofits, historical associations, and other organizations. They use a variety of sources in their work, including government and institutional records, newspapers, photographs, interviews, films, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries, letters, and other primary source documents. They also may process, catalog, and archive these documents and artifacts.
Many historians present and interpret history in order to inform or build upon public knowledge of past events. They often trace and build a historical profile of a particular person, area, idea, organization, or event. Once their research is complete, they present their findings through articles, books, reports, exhibits, websites, and educational programs.
In government, some historians conduct research to provide information on specific events or groups. Many write about the history of a particular government agency, activity, or program, such as a military operation or space missions. For example, they may research the people and events related to Operation Desert Storm.
In historical associations, historians may work with archivists, curators, and museum workers to preserve artifacts and explain the historical significance of a wide variety of subjects, such as historic buildings, religious groups, and battlegrounds. Workers with a background in history also may go into one of these occupations.
Many people with a degree in history also become high school teachers or postsecondary teachers.
 Work Environment
			HistoriansHistorians may spend much of their time researching and writing reports.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Historians held about 3,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of historians were as follows:
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                22%Professional, scientific, and technical services
                21Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                18State government, excluding education and hospitals
                14Historians work in museums, archives, historical societies, and research organizations. Some work as consultants for these organizations while being employed by consulting firms, and some work as independent consultants.
Work Schedules
Most historians work full time during regular business hours. Some work independently and are able to set their own schedules. Historians who work in museums or other institutions open to the public may work evenings or weekends. Some historians may travel to collect artifacts, conduct interviews, or visit an area to better understand its culture and environment.
 How to Become a Historian

			historians imageHistorians learn to use primary sources, such as letters and photographs, in their research.			
Historians typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Those with a bachelor’s degree in history may qualify for some entry-level positions, but most will find jobs in different fields.
Education
Historians typically need a master’s degree or Ph.D. to enter the occupation. Many historians have a master’s degree in history or public history. Others complete degrees in related fields, such as museum studies, historical preservation, or archival management.
In addition to coursework, most master’s programs in public history and similar fields require an internship as part of the curriculum.
Research positions in the federal government and positions in academia typically require a Ph.D. Students in history Ph.D. programs usually concentrate in a specific area of history. Possible specializations include a particular country or region, period, or field, such as social, political, or cultural history.
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in history may qualify for entry-level positions at museums, historical associations, or other small organizations. However, most bachelor’s degree holders usually work outside of traditional historian jobs—for example, jobs in education, communications, law, business, publishing, or journalism.
Other Experience
Many employers recommend that prospective historians complete an internship during their formal educational studies. Internships offer an opportunity for students to learn practical skills, such as handling and preserving artifacts and creating exhibits. They also give students an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in a hands-on setting.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Historians must be able to examine various types of historical resources and draw clear and logical conclusions based on their findings.
***Communication skills.*** Historians must communicate effectively when collecting information, collaborating with colleagues, and presenting their research to the public through written documents and presentations.
***Foreign language skills.*** Historians may need to review primary source materials that are not in English. This makes knowledge of the other language useful during research.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Historians try to answer questions about the past. They may investigate something unknown about a past idea, event, or person; decipher historical information; or identify how the past has affected the present.
***Research skills.*** Historians must be able to examine and process information from a large number of historical resources, including documents, images, and material artifacts.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                HistoriansMedian annual wages, May 2023Social scientists and related workers$89,440  Historians$72,890  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for historians was $72,890 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $124,720.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for historians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $109,050Professional, scientific, and technical services
                81,230State government, excluding education and hospitals
                65,910Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                43,600Most historians work full time during standard business hours. Some work independently and are able to set their own schedules. Historians who work in museums or other institutions open to the public may work evenings or weekends. Some historians may travel to collect artifacts, conduct interviews, or visit an area to better understand its culture and environment.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               HistoriansPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Social scientists and related workers5%  Historians3%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of historians is projected to grow				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 300 openings for historians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Organizations that employ historians, such as historical societies and government agencies, often depend on donations or public funding. Thus, employment growth will depend largely on the amount of funding available.
			

                        Employment projections data for     historians, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Historians**
			19-3093
			3,500
			3,600
			3
			100
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Historians **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of historians. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Anthropologists and Archeologists**
            Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans.
            Master's degree
            $63,800**Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers**
            Archivists and curators oversee institutions’ collections, such as of historical items or of artwork. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore items in those collections.
            See How to Become One
            $57,120**Economists**
            Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
            Master's degree
            $115,730**Editors**
            Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.
            Bachelor's degree
            $75,020**Geographers**
            Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.
            Bachelor's degree
            $90,880**High School Teachers**
            High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market.
            Bachelor's degree
            $65,220**Political Scientists**
            Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
            Master's degree
            $132,350**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**Sociologists**
            Sociologists study society and social behavior.
            Master's degree
            $101,770**Writers and Authors**
            Writers and authors develop written content for various types of media.
            Bachelor's degree
            $73,690
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about historians, visit
American Association for State and Local History
American Historical Association
National Council on Public History
Organization of American Historians

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Historians
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Historians, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/historians.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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