What Jobs can you get with a History Degree?

This post provides exhaustive information on jobs you can get with a history degree, including the duties they perform and the expected salary you can earn as a graduate.

As one with interest in studying history as a career, you will probably first want an answer to the question commonly asked by students, ‘what jobs can you get with a history degree?” before making the commitment.

About History

In the wise words of Machiavelli, “Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times.”

Machiavelli made this statement to emphasize the import of the subject history, which has made good attempts in providing insights and understanding of important past occurrences such as events that led up to past wars/conflict, forgotten cultural practices, and political revolutions consigned to oblivion.

These events as revealed by history books, recordings, and antique materials aid man in learning better ways to address current situations of political disputes, economic troubles, social and environmental changes.

Although we live in an age without much regard to past happenings, an age where we focus a lot on current trends more than we consider the past or even the future, it is pertinent to heed the counsel of history, because you must know where you are coming from to know where you are headed.

What Historians Do?

Historians are at the helm of seeking out past truths and experiences, they provide informative evidence as to the workings of the earlier society; how man reacted to circumstances and the outcome of such reaction.

A degree in history provides an avenue for students interested in the course to pursue careers in a wide range of fields such as journalism, writing, research, teaching, and getting paid handsomely while doing so.

A history degree is popular among undergraduates in the U.S as it ranks 21 most popular college degree out of 200 others studied in the U.S according to MatchCollege.

It also takes the 10th place as one of the most popular courses in the U.K as published by The Telegraph.

What can you do with a History Associate’s Degree?

An Associate’s degree in history comes in handy as a preparatory program that paves the way for pursuing a career in the field of history.

It furnishes students with writing skills, ability to think critically, as well as interpersonal skills.

These skills along with knowledge of past events position history graduates with Associate’s degree for jobs such as:

• Document Archivist: They are responsible for arranging and organizing archival records to increase ease of access; they evaluate historic materials and authenticate them. They also bear the responsibility of converting hard copy materials to soft copy so as to preserve information; and they seek out new materials, as well as overseeing the organization and exhibition of archival materials. See detailed archivist job description.
• Teaching Assistant: Part of their duties entail aiding history teachers with student supervision in class, ensuring they comply with school and class regulation. They assist students with class lessons, throwing more light on certain topics to improve understanding of the subject; they also carry out record-keeping tasks such as class attendance and calculation of students’ grade. See detailed teaching assistant job description. 
• Park Historian: Their duties revolve around providing the public/tourists with knowledge of the significance of a park. They create an interesting outlook of a place usually a historic location by organizing a tour, delivering verbal and graphical presentations, placing emphasis on the natural, scientific, and historical relevance of the park.

The salary of history majors earning with an Associate’s degree according to Payscale is estimated to be $30,000 for female earners and $42,284 for males.

Employers often aren’t keen on hiring graduates with just an Associate’s degree except those taking obvious steps to further their education up to a Bachelor’s level.

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in history provides students with valuable skills such as the ability to carry out proper research and communicate their findings clearly, to work without direct supervision, as well as refined reasoning and analytical skills.

What can you do with a History Bachelor’s Degree?

With a Bachelor’s degree, you qualify for job positions as:

• Conservation Officer: Their duties entail providing professional advice on the preservation and improvement of historic centers. They help to protect structures with special historic attachments, artistic or cultural import by evaluating and recommending them for conservation. They are also actively involved in seeking out funds from government to refurbish and maintain historic sites.
• Archaeologist: They specialize in the preservation of historic artifacts. They visit and survey ancient sites carrying out excavations in a bid to discover archaeological remains, objects, or images that can relate a prehistoric era. They utilize an array of tools for this task, ranging from Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to computer simulations, laboratory equipment, and digging tools. See detailed archaeologist job description.
• Museum Curator: Their duties involve the general management and maintenance of artistic objects and artifacts in a museum. They are responsible for the collection and approval of artworks; they display collections in the most aesthetic and accessible way and they also manage the staff as well as seeking grants to improve the outlook of the museum.
• Civil Service Administrator: Tasked with the responsibility of resource management, carrying out economic/political research, utilizing communication skills in presenting reports, which can be used as a basis for future policies. They are also responsible for arranging the affairs/welfare of civil servants and members of public organizations.
• Broadcast Journalist: They specialize in the research and presentation of news for television and radio agencies, as well as on the internet. They carry out research to obtain information that is newsworthy, conduct interviews, and produce stories for broadcast.

The salary of history majors with Bachelor’s degree is pegged at a range of $32,189-$68,918 for females and $36,350-$96,041 for male earners according to Payscale.

Going for advanced degrees provides a competitive edge to overcome the tussle in the job market as well as to advance professionally and increase earning potential.

What can you do with a History Master’s or Doctorate Degree?

With a Master’s or Doctorate degree, one can pursue careers such as:

• Post-Secondary Teachers: They specialize in teaching students at community colleges or universities.
• Consultant: They offer professional advice to clients, helping them carry out research as well as strategic support.
• Writer: They specialize in churning out academic write-ups as well as public journals. They find relevance in publishing and editing firms.

The salary of history majors with Master’s degree is pegged at $55,800 with a 2% job growth rate that implies relatively few available jobs.

Conclusion

A degree in history, be it Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s, or the advanced degrees like Master’s and Doctorate provides exciting career and job prospects, as well as fulfillment if you have particular interest in learning about historical events.