How to become a historian

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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect 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)..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.

What historians do

• Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
• Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
• Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies.
• Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
• 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.

Skills that matter most

• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies
• Monitoring

Is historian a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 51% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Maryland $120,580
• District of Columbia $118,290
• Minnesota $103,040
• Virginia $101,920
• Washington $99,720

Historians salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.