Historians

SOC code 19-3093 · O*NET-SOC 19-3093.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Science and engineering

Historians pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$76,750

a year

Hourly

$36.90

per hour

10th$42,730Median$76,75090th$131,810

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$81,240

$39.06 per hour

Middle 50%

$57,290 – $99,990

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$42,730 – $131,810

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

3,450

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $42,730; $20.55/hr
25th percentile: $57,290; $27.54/hr
Median percentile: $76,750; $36.90/hr
75th percentile: $99,990; $48.07/hr
90th percentile: $131,810; $63.37/hr

Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34

+2%

Growing about as fast as average

3,400

jobs in 2024

3,500

projected for 2034

About 100 more jobs

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.

What does a historian 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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

The tasks that matter most day to day

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.

How to become a historian

Most people in this role hold master's degree — 64% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed

Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

See all zone 5 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

Master's Degree64%
Bachelor's Degree10%
Less than a High School Diploma9%
Some College Courses8%

Common questions

How much does a historian earn?

The national median is $76,750 a year. The full range runs from $42,730 at the 10th percentile to $131,810 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a historian without a degree?

Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.

Is historian in demand?

Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 2% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Reading Comprehension4.8/5
Writing4.1/5
Critical Thinking4.1/5
Active Listening4.0/5
Speaking4.0/5
Active Learning4.0/5
Learning Strategies3.3/5

Knowledge areas

History and Archeology4.6/5
English Language4.1/5
Sociology and Anthropology3.6/5
Geography3.5/5
Administrative3.5/5
Education and Training3.3/5
Communications and Media3.0/5
Fine Arts2.9/5

Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing.