Median pay
$74,050
Median annual pay for Historians.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
10-year growth
2.2%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings
300
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment
3,400
Estimated U.S. employment for Historians in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost
+100
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation
Master's degree
Typical education needed to enter Historians.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile
What the work involves
Strongest O*NET signals first.
Essential skills
- 1Reading Comprehension
- 2Critical Thinking
- 3Writing
- 4Active Learning
- 5Active Listening
- 6Speaking
Knowledge areas
- 1History and Archeology
- 2English Language
- 3Sociology and Anthropology
- 4Geography
- 5Administrative
- 6Education and Training
Abilities
- 1Written Comprehension
- 2Written Expression
- 3Near Vision
- 4Oral Comprehension
- 5Oral Expression
- 6Inductive Reasoning
Career interests
- 1Investigative
- 2Conventional
- 3Artistic
- 4Social
- 5Realistic
- 6Enterprising
Work styles
- 1Intellectual Curiosity
- 2Attention to Detail
- 3Integrity
- 4Dependability
- 5Achievement Orientation
- 6Tolerance for Ambiguity
Work activities
- 1Getting Information
- 2Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- 3Working with Computers
- 4Processing Information
- 5Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- 6Documenting/Recording Information
Work context
- 1E-Mail
- 2Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- 3Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- 4Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- 5Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- 6Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
Representative tasks
- 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.
Software and tools
Adobe Acrobat · in demandMicrosoft Word · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandESRI ArcGIS software · in demandStructured query language SQL · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyIBM SPSS Statistics · hot technologyExtensible markup language XML · hot technologyMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASP · hot technology
Sources
BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.