Do you want a career that integrates your love of history? Whether you majored in history at college, are exploring your graduate career options, or are just a hobbyist who wants to bring their passion for history to work every day, we’ve dug up some of the best jobs for history fans.
Did you know that US President Joe Biden graduated with a double major in History and Political Science from the University of Delaware in 1965? It just goes to show you can do great things with a love of history!
Curator
Average salary: $51,966
Museum and art gallery curators manage collections of objects. One curator might suffice in smaller museums with a more specialized collection. For more prominent museums with significant collections, curatorial roles will be broken down by specialisms such as works on paper or sculpture, or divided by periods of history.
Most curators will have majored in history or a related subject and might have a postgraduate qualification in Museum Studies. You’ll be expected to have significant historical knowledge and expertise in collection care and cataloging.
Does a career as a curator sound appealing? Make sure you check our site for the latest listings here.
Archaeologist
Average salary: $61,910
Archaeologists have to be very willing to get their hands dirty. Most archaeologists are employed by local governments or by construction companies to carry out surveys prior to construction work.
In 2021, over 1,000 archaeologists were employed by the US Government, receiving an average salary of just over $79,000. The BLS cites median pay for archaeologists at just under $62,000, but the most experienced specialists can earn up to $100,000.
You’ll be expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of history, spanning from prehistoric periods, and have completed a four-year college degree, majoring in archaeology or anthropology.
Think you’d enjoy digging for gold? Then make sure you’ve seen our latest archaeology jobs here.
Librarian
Average salary: $61,495
You don’t necessarily need a historical background to become a librarian, but it would definitely help to have a love of literature spanning a broad period of history.
You’ll be responsible for collecting, organizing, and issuing library resources such as books, films, audio files, and collections such as local news cuttings.
Most library roles will expect you to have a master’s degree in library science (MLS), preferably from an American Library Association (ALA) accredited program. Fans of the Netflix show, You, might be starting to think that Joe was faking yet another thing on his resume.
Are you a certified bookworm? Check out these library jobs here.
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Lecturer
Average salary: $69,499
University lecturers have to be at the top of their game when it comes to their area of expertise and the majority have a PhD.
You’ll be responsible for supporting college students throughout their studies and will often be required to contribute to departmental research and publications.
Contracts aren’t always full-time, or permanent, so until you’re tenured there could be some career insecurity. In return, you can expect compensation of just under $70,000. The average salary for a full time lecturer was $69,499 in 2021-2022, according to the American Association of University Professors.
Do you know your Renaissance from your Byzantine? Then perhaps an academic career is for you. Here are our latest lecturer roles.
History teacher
Average salary: $68,695
History teachers tend to have a more general understanding of history so that they can teach the history syllabus that leads to high school graduation.
A typical route includes:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in history and complete a teacher preparation program.
- Complete a student teaching internship.
- Take your state’s required exams.
- Apply for a teaching license.
However, there are other routes to teaching. Private schools do not always require state teacher certifications but this does vary state by state.
Excited to support young minds, and share your passion for history? Check out the latest roles here.
Tour guide
Average salary: $39,229
This is a great role for hobbyists who may not have a formal qualification in history. Tour guides can work in a range of settings from museums, to galleries, to state capitol buildings, or aboard a bus.
You’ll need to be able to retain a lot of knowledge, answer questions, and be confident dealing with members of the public.
It’s a busy job that requires you to be on the go a lot and quite a few contracts are part-time or seasonal. However, this is a great job if you love getting out and about and meeting new people!
Got a specific passion for a local monument or proud to know everything there is to know about your hometown? Then you should be keeping an eye out for tour guide positions here.
Philanthropy manager
Average salary: $73,998
Passionate about making art and history accessible? Many museums and galleries rely heavily on donations in order to survive.
Philanthropy managers and development teams work tirelessly to secure donations, from encouraging small donations annually to securing large donations from wealthy patrons.
You might be responsible for sending regular mailings to members about new acquisitions or exclusive events, organizing private viewings for high-net-worth donors, or ideating creative ways of asking people to reach into their pockets for some spare change.
You’ll need to have a passion for the collection, and really know your stuff so that you can share your knowledge and impress donors.
Are you great at getting to know what makes people tick? Use your skills for good, and explore the latest philanthropy manager roles here.
Archivist
Average salary: $61,880
Archiving could be the perfect role for someone who enjoys some alone time and is highly methodical.
You’ll be responsible for checking in any new finds that land from archaeologists, or any new work a library or museum has acquired. You’ll assign a catalog number, organize the item, and ensure that the system is maintained.
It’s a methodical job that requires comprehensive historical understanding, an eye for detail, and the ability to create and follow systems. It’s not the most varied role, but we think it would be pretty satisfying.
You could be employed by a museum, an archive, a heritage organization, or even a private person or company.
Fancy exploring a career as an archivist? Find the latest jobs here.
Conservator
Average salary: $52,030
Conservators look after and restore objects, artworks, and buildings of historical and artistic importance.
This is a role that combines history or art history with scientific understanding. You’ll need to ensure that conditions are right for display and storage and that items or buildings are kept and maintained in the best possible condition.
You might be employed by a museum or gallery or work in a workshop or creative studio. Some conservators might also work in a lab where they study the items so that they can understand how best to maintain them.
Most professional conservators earn an advanced degree, with the majority of job postings requiring at least a master’s degree from a conservation graduate program or equivalent.
Want to look after history for future generations? Check out our latest conservator jobs here.
Architect
Average salary: $95,953
Do you feel inspired by the world around you and find the idea of creating the buildings of the future exciting? If you know your Empire State from your Golden Gate Bridge this could be a fantastic career to combine a love of architecture with a love of design.
Architects combine a strong understanding of art, buildings, and their history with design skills and utilization of modern technology.
It’s a lucrative career but you need to do a lot of legwork before you qualify. Each US state and territoria or jurisdiction sets their own requirements for licensure – so you need to know where you want to practice.
In general you will need to:
- Earn an architecture degree from a NAAB-accredited program, or meet your jurisdiction’s education requirement.
- Gain and document the required experience.
- Pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).
- Meet any extra jurisdictional requirements.
- Submit all details of qualifications and experience to the jurisdiction where you would like to be licensed.
Not put off by all that studying? We’ve got thousands of architecture roles here.
Feeling inspired to start your search for a history-related role? Why not check out all the historical jobs in one place here? You’ll find a huge range of jobs on offer across the US!
Read more: Top 10 most relaxing jobs in the US