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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/historians
- SOC code: 19-3093.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $76,750 (10th percentile $42,730, 90th percentile $131,810)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.0%
- Openings a year: 300
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ICA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 23 |
| Investigative (I) | 72 |
| Artistic (A) | 45 |
| Social (S) | 37 |
| Enterprising (E) | 23 |
| Conventional (C) | 65 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 90/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 83/100)
- Processing Information (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 76/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 75/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 74/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 71/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 69/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Writing, Active Learning, Active Listening, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving, Learning Strategies, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

History and Archeology, English Language, Sociology and Anthropology, Geography, Administrative, Education and Training, Communications and Media, Fine Arts, Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management

## Also called

Architectural Historian, Art Historian, Collections Specialist, County Historian, Dance Historian, Dramatic Arts Historian, Field Court Researcher, Film Historian, Genealogist, Genealogist Researcher

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [History](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5401) (CIP 5401, 1,464 colleges)
- [Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5132) (CIP 5132, 352 colleges)
- [Historic Preservation and Conservation](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3012) (CIP 3012, 86 colleges)
- [Classical and Ancient Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3022) (CIP 3022, 84 colleges)
- [Medieval and Renaissance Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3013) (CIP 3013, 62 colleges)
- Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation (CIP 0408, 34 colleges)
- History and Political Science (CIP 3046, 21 colleges)
- Holocaust and Related Studies (CIP 3021, 13 colleges)
- Maritime Studies (CIP 3029, 7 colleges)
- History and Language/Literature (CIP 3045, 5 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | History | $69,917 | $136,403 | $12,000 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | History | $53,104 | $112,377 | not reported |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | History | $61,357 | $109,947 | $7,500 |
| [Amherst College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/amherst-college-72) | History | $54,456 | $103,601 | not reported |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | History | not reported | $100,087 | not reported |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | History | $58,276 | $98,079 | $22,250 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | History | $55,825 | $88,517 | not reported |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | History | $60,823 | $85,520 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Anthropologists and Archeologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropologists-and-archeologists): $70,770 median pay
- [Archivists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/archivists): $64,550 median pay
- [Curators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/curators): $63,420 median pay
- [History Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/history-teachers-postsecondary): $83,820 median pay
- [Geographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geographers): $102,040 median pay
- [Sociologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociologists): $106,030 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.