Historians

Career summary

#no matching wois, historians is a subheading in 2144 social scientists

Historians study the causes and effects of past events. Historians study and consider many different views of events to understand the past.

Historians usually specialize in one area, such as:

• A specific country or region
• A particular time period
• A particular field (social, intellectual, political, or diplomatic history)

They use many sources to gather information:

• Government and institutional records
• Newspapers and magazines
• Photographs
• Films
• Diaries
• Letters
• Interviews

Historians may supervise students or other workers who help them catalog the information they gather. They must determine if historic items are authentic.

Once historians have an understanding of an event, they may write a book or put together an exhibit for a historical society. They may also give talks to students and other groups.

Historians sometimes act as consultants. They may advise individuals, institutions, or organizations about areas of historical interest. For example, they may help a writer understand the events of a specific time.

Historians may also review books and exhibits put together by other historians. They verify that the information presented is accurate.

Other specialties in history include:

• Biographers collect and write down a person's life history
• Genealogists trace family histories
• Archivists help identify, catalog, and preserve items in archives
• Preservationists preserve or restore historic buildings and sites

Many historians are also college and university professors. They teach in addition to conducting research.

Related careers

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Anthropologists
• Archivists
• Geographers
• Librarians
• Management Analysts
• News Reporters
• Political Scientists
• Sociologists
• University and College Teachers
• Urban and Regional Planners

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to historians.

• Conduct historical research. Present findings and theories in textbooks, journals, and other publications.
• Assemble historical data by consulting sources, such as archives, court records, diaries, and news files.
• Review and collect data from books, pamphlets, periodicals, and rare newspapers.
• Organize and evaluate data on the basis of its significance.
• Consult with experts or witnesses of historical events.
• Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials.
• Edit historical articles, newsletters, books, and papers.
• Speak to groups, organizations, and clubs to promote historical societies' aims and activities.
• Advise or consult with individuals, institutions, and commercial organizations about areas of historical interest.
• Review publications and exhibits prepared by others. Ensure historical accuracy of information.
• Teach theories and principles of history.
• Organize information to be published in CD-ROMs or Internet sites.
• May translate materials from the original language to English.
• May interview people and gather materials for biographies.

Common work activities

Historians perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Get information needed to do the job
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Think creatively
• Document and record information
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Process information
• Perform for or work with the public
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Use computers
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Analyze data or information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Develop goals and strategies
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Perform administrative tasks
• Schedule work and activities
• Evaluate information against standards
• Coach others
• Monitor and control resources

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, historians:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They spend a considerable amount of time interviewing people.
• Communicate by telephone, e-mail, and in person on a daily basis. They also communicate by letters and memos, but less often.
• Occasionally give lectures and talks.
• Regularly work in a group or as part of a team.
• Are responsible for the work done by research assistants and other workers.
• Are often placed in conflict situations. People may disagree about the interpretation of an event.
• May on occasion deal with unpleasant or angry individuals.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work indoors. They sometimes may work in places that don't have heat or air conditioning, especially when traveling to historical sites.
• Work near others, usually within a few feet. They may share the same work space.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in performing their job. Leaving out information could cause people to misunderstand events.
• Regularly make decisions that affect coworkers, assistants, and others. The rarely consult a supervisor before deciding a course of action.
• Set most daily tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor.
• Abide by strict weekly deadlines.
• Often repeat the same activities, such as typing or using a computer mouse.

Hours/travel

• Most work 40 hours per week. May work overtime to meet research or publication deadlines.
• Usually work a set schedule.
• Occasionally travel to conduct research or work with other historians.

Physical demands

Historians frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for historians to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for historians to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Historians need to:

Communicate

• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Anthropology
• Archeology
• Historic Preservation
• History
• Medieval and Renaissance Studies
• Public History

Other programs of study to consider

• Art History
• Ethnic Studies
• Holocaust and Genocide Studies
• Museum Studies
• Music History
• Native American Studies
• Political Science and Government

Training

To work as a historian, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have a bachelor's degree; and
• have a master's degree in history.

Education after high school

Many historians have a master's degree or higher in history. However, research assistants usually need only a bachelor's degree. As a student you study different areas of history, such as medieval, American, or world history. When you earn an advanced degree you focus on one area of history. You learn how to find, document, and write reports about important pieces of historical information.

To teach history at a university, you will need a doctoral (PhD) degree. Most colleges and universities offer degrees in history.

Work experience

Working as a research assistant for a historian is good experience for this field. Look for this kind of work when you are a college student.

On-the-job training

Some students complete an internship while in school. This is important for finding a job. Working as an intern with an archivist or at a historical society provides good work experience.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Economics
• Geography
• State History
• US History
• Western Civilization
• World History

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

A bachelor's degree in history is usually the minimum requirement for employment. However, few jobs directly related to history are open to graduates who have only a bachelor's degree. Employers prefer research assistants who can work with little or no supervision.

Many employers, especially in research, prefer to hire applicants with a PhD or at least a master's degree. Universities choose candidates based on their area of research and the quality of their published articles. Some employers prefer applicants who have combined a PhD in history with a degree in another discipline, such as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Library Science (MLS).

Costs to workers

Workers must pay for association dues, reference books and journals, and college classes to keep up with changes in the field.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Historians 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Earnings for historians vary by employer. For those who teach at colleges and universities, wages depend on the historian's academic rank and length of employment. Wages increase as historians achieve higher ranks.

Wages for historians who work for the federal government vary by the worker's education level and length of employment.

Historians who work full time may receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some employers also provide a retirement plan. 

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings. 

National employment

Major employers:

• Federal, state, and local government agencies
• Historical societies
• Consulting companies
• Museums

National outlook

Growth for historians is expected to be about as fast as average. Most historians work for government agencies. Public interest in preserving and restoring historical sites is increasing. As a result, historians may find opportunities with historic preservation societies.

Historians currently face strong competition for academic positions. There are more applicants than there are jobs available. Job prospects are best for those with advanced degrees or experience in an area of specialization such as exhibits or fundraising.

The employment and outlook data does not include historians who teach at colleges and universities.

Other resources

African Studies Association 

American Folklore Society 
812.856.2379

American Historical Association 
777 6th St NW, 11th floor
Washington, DC 20001
202.544.2422

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works 
727 15th St NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
202.452.9545

History of Science Society 

References

Career cluster

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Historians (19-3093.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupations

• Director, Research (052.167-010) 
• Director, State-historical Society (052.067-014) 
• Historian (052.067-022) 
• Historian, Dramatic Arts (052.067-026) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Investigative/Conventional/Artistic
• Investigative/Conventional/Enterprising
• Investigative/Conventional/Social

COPSystem

• Communication