Historians research, analyze, and interpret past events and societies to help us understand how the world came to be. You'll spend time getting information from primary and secondary sources, identifying patterns, and communicating findings to audiences outside academia. This work requires a master's degree and strong critical thinking skills.
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Historians investigate historical events, people, and societies by gathering information from archives, documents, and other sources. You read and analyze materials carefully, identify key patterns and connections, and work with computers to organize and process information. You document your findings through writing and present your research to people outside your organization, whether that's the public, media, or other institutions. Your work draws on knowledge of history, geography, sociology, and anthropology to build a complete picture of the past.
Core work activities
Historians earn a median of $76,750 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 300 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Historians typically need a master's degree, which requires extensive preparation. You'll start with a bachelor's degree in history or a related field, then pursue graduate study where you'll develop research methods, critical thinking, and writing skills. Graduate programs emphasize independent research projects and often require you to learn specialized tools for historical analysis. Job Zone 5 preparation means you're building expertise through advanced education and developing the ability to conduct original research and contribute new knowledge to your field.
Most historians pursue a master's degree after completing a bachelor's degree, so the path is fairly defined. If you're deciding whether to specialize early or keep your options open, Pathly can map the historian path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to find the right timing and focus for you.
You do not need a license to work as a historian, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You're drawn to investigative work that involves uncovering information, analyzing complex patterns, and thinking critically about evidence. You enjoy reading deeply, asking questions, and building arguments based on what you discover.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).