If you have a history degree and are wondering what profession you can pursue, there are plenty of career opportunities if you recently graduated with a history degree.
While many people assume that a history degree only leads to jobs as a history teacher or professor, the truth is that many other career paths are available with a history degree.
Here are 12 professions if you’re wondering, “What jobs can I get with a history degree?”
Popular career paths with a history degree
Museum professionals
You can become a museum professional with a history degree. You can be a museum curator responsible for acquiring, preserving, and displaying artifacts and exhibits in a museum.
You can also work as museum technician to assist with installing, maintaining, and conserving museum exhibits and artifacts. You’ll work closely with museum curators and exhibit designers to ensure that exhibits are installed safely and properly, and that artifacts are stored and maintained in accordance with best practices.
Hourly wage range: $20-$50 per hour.
Archivist
You can work as an archivist in museums, libraries, and other organizations. Your work involves appraising, organizing, and maintaining historical records and documents for individuals or organizations.
You must ensure all the materials are preserved and accessible for research and education purposes. You need skills in research, organization, attention to detail, communication, digital preservation, and knowledge of archival standards and procedures.
Hourly wage range: $15-$45 per hour.
Historian
Another profession you can venture into with a history degree is as a historian. You’re responsible for researching and analyzing past events, cultures, and societies to understand history better. You must study historical documents and artifacts, interpret evidence, and develop theories and explanations for historical phenomena.
You need skills such as analytical thinking, research, critical thinking, communication, writing, attention to detail, objectivity, and knowledge of historical research methods.
You can work in education, research, or various industries to provide insight and context for current events.
Hourly wage range: $20-$40 per hour.
High school teacher
You can teach history in high schools with a history degree and a teaching license. You will teach students about historical events, concepts and ideas and their impact on society.
You need communication, lesson planning, classroom management, subject knowledge, patience, empathy, and critical thinking skills. You can take home a good salary as a teacher.
Hourly wage range: $20-$50 per hour.
Creative career paths with a history degree
Researcher
With a history degree, you can work as a researcher in various industries, including journalism, consulting, and market research. You’ll conduct primary and secondary research on historical events, people, and societies, analyze the data, and present findings.
You can also work for academic institutions, government agencies, or private organizations.
You need research, critical thinking, data analysis, writing, attention to detail, problem-solving, time management, and organizational skills. You also need knowledge of historical research methods.
Hourly wage range: $20-$50 per hour.
Historical researcher for documentary filmmaking
You can work in the film industry as documentary filmmakers, providing historical context and analysis for documentaries. You must ensure that the documented historical events and details are accurately represented in movies and TV shows. The profession requires skills in research, writing, and visual storytelling.
Hourly wage range: $25-$75 per hour.
Policy analyst
Historians are valuable sources for providing valuable insight into policy decisions’ historical context and implications. As a policy analyst, you can work in government and non-profit organizations to research and analyze policy options and provide recommendations to decision-makers.
You’ll be researching and analyzing public policies and their impacts on society. You use data, statistics, and research to develop policy recommendations for government agencies or private organizations. Your work also involves evaluating existing policies to identify areas for improvement.
You need analytical thinking, research, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, attention to detail, and objectivity. You also need to be knowledgeable of policy analysis methods and techniques.
Hourly wage range: $25-$50 per hour.
Specialized career paths with a history degree
Lawyer
Having a history degree can help prepare you for a career in law by developing skills in critical thinking, research, writing, and analysis. These skills are essential for success in law school and legal practice.
You’ll be advising and representing clients in legal matters as a lawyer. Your work will involve researching and analyzing legal issues, drafting legal documents, and arguing cases in court on behalf of your clients. You can specialize in a particular area of law, such as criminal law, corporate law, or environmental law.
You need skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, research, writing, and analytical skills as a lawyer.
Hourly wage range: $31.09-$208 per hour.
History professor
You can go on to become a college professor and teach history at the college level with a history degree. You will need teaching and research experience and a doctoral degree in history or a related field.
Hourly wage range: $30-$100 per hour.
Historic preservationist
Having a history degree can help prepare you for a career in historic preservation. As a historic preservationist you’ll work to preserve and protect historical sites, buildings, and artifacts. You can work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies.
Your responsibilities include conducting historical research to identify significant sites and structures that need preservation.You must also evaluate the condition of historical buildings and recommend strategies to protect and conserve them.
Hourly wage range: $15-$40 per hour.
Genealogist
A history degree is also essential if you’re an aspiring genealogist. You are equipped with skills such as research methods, analysis of primary sources, and contextual understanding of historical events.
These skills are essential for tracing family histories, understanding the social and cultural influences on ancestors, and interpreting the significance of genealogical data.
You, therefore, can help individuals and families trace their ancestry and create family trees by searching for and analyzing historical records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, census data, immigration records, and other historical documents.
Hourly wage range: $14-$39
Technical writer
As a technical writer with a history degree, you can write technical documents, such as user manuals, instruction guides, training materials, and other documents that clearly and concisely explain complex information.
Your unique skill set enables you to write about technical subjects with historical context and accuracy. Some of your tasks and responsibilities include researching technical subjects to understand their historical context and significance. You must also collaborate with subject matter experts to gather information and create accurate and relevant technical documents.
Additionally, you can use your research and writing skills to become a writer or editor for magazines, newspapers, or publishing companies. You can write historical articles, books, or educational materials.
Hourly wage range: $15-$50 per hour.
Conclusion
You can land many jobs with a history degree, from archivist, museum professionals, historian,high school history teacher,researcher, policy analyst and more.
A history degree can also serve as a foundation for other specialized career paths like genealogist, historian, technical writer, or lawyer.