How much does a historian make?

The median pay is $36.90 per hour — roughly $77,000 a year, with the real range running from about $20.55/hr (10th percentile) to $63.37/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a historian?

The typical entry-level education is: Master's degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).

What does a historian actually do all day?

Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts. Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals. Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.

Science

Historians

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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

What it pays
Historians earn a median of $36.90/hr — about $77,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.55/hr; the top 10% earn $63.37/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.
Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Master's degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).

The feel of the work

It rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 2% of historians are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are analytical, organized and detail-focused and creative.

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Quick questions

How much does a historian make?: The median pay is $36.90 per hour — roughly $77,000 a year, with the real range running from about $20.55/hr (10th percentile) to $63.37/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a historian?: The typical entry-level education is: Master's degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
What does a historian actually do all day?: Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts. Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals. Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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