How to Become a Historian

A historian leads a group through a museum exhibit.

While many skilled professionals work hard to make sense of society, improve cultural awareness and analyze current events, historians examine historical events to develop new understandings that can add critical context to those endeavors. Anyone interested in the past and its impact on the modern world should consider learning how to become a historian.

A bachelor’s degree in history program provides individuals with a solid, well-rounded foundation that they can build upon with further study and experience.

What Is a Historian?

Historians are subject matter experts in the field of history, often spending much of their time researching past events or preserving historical knowledge. Though these professionals often go on to specialize in a specific time period and place, many begin their careers with a much broader focus.

A historian’s typical duties and responsibilities include the following:

Using their research skills to find, gather and analyze data from records, artifacts and archives
Following the developments of a specific culture or location over time
Assessing historical information, including documents and artifacts, to determine whether they are authentic and significant
Preserving materials at historic sites and in public-facing areas such as museums
Guiding and advising others studying historical topics
Informing others about preservation issues
Writing books, papers and reports about their findings and theories regarding specific areas of history

Historians work in a variety of settings and in numerous capacities. Many work in academia and education, while others work in the media and for publishing companies, in libraries and for a wide range of nonprofit organizations.

Depending on their area of expertise, historians might also work in specific fields. For example, political historians work for government agencies determining how political history impacts current events like elections. Economic historians are employed by major corporations to assess how trade and labor systems have changed over time. Military historians work for the armed forces, exploring battles, wars and how military technology has evolved.

Steps to Become a Historian

Anyone looking into how to become a historian should know that pursuing an education, developing the right skills and gaining relevant experience are key steps.

1. Earn a Degree

Historians typically have a master’s or doctorate degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, for candidates who are beginning in the field, a bachelor’s degree in history is often enough to qualify for entry-level positions in museums and historical associations. Some universities offer accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs that allow students to earn an advanced degree more quickly.

2. Develop Critical Skills

Aspiring historians should work to develop skills in the following areas:

Analysis: Much of a historian’s job involves analyzing historical data and drawing sound conclusions.
Communication: Historians collaborate with a wide variety of people, ranging from archaeologists and researchers to public relations professionals and the general public.
Languages: When historians specialize in a specific time period or part of the world, learning the languages spoken at that time or place can help their research significantly.
Research: Historians pore over and process data from vast stores of documents, images, artifacts and other materials.
Problem-Solving: Answering questions about the past can help historians contribute to solving modern problems, understanding cultures or reinterpreting previously misunderstood historical data.

3. Gain Experience

Employers may prefer that candidates for entry-level historian positions have some basic experience. Some of the most common ways to obtain that experience are working as an assistant in a museum, volunteering for a local historical society or organization, or participating in a college internship. Some historians start their careers as library technicians, teachers or researchers in a specific field.

Historian Salary and Job Outlook

Historians had a median annual salary of $75,050 as of May 2024, according to the BLS. While the median salary of those working for the federal government was significantly higher than the overall median at $114,650 annually, these individuals typically have at least a master’s degree. Historians working in professional, scientific and technical services had a median salary of $75,070.

The BLS projects that positions for historians will increase by 2% between 2024 and 2034. Organizations employing historians often rely on fundraising efforts, donations and grants to pay their salaries, making employment growth dependent on that funding.

Studying the Past Can Improve Your Future

Historians are professionals who work to ensure that our knowledge of history is accurate, well-preserved and understood in the right context. From preserving ancient artifacts to educating the public through museum exhibits, the work focuses on helping society retain as much information as possible for generations to come.

Earning a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University at Albany can be a great way to get started in this rewarding field. Available on campus or online, the UAlbany history program provides students with a solid foundation of knowledge; access to research opportunities; and internship options with national park sites, libraries, law offices and other agencies that can prepare students for lifelong careers.

UAlbany also offers a combined bachelor’s/master’s program where students can earn their BA in History and a Master of Arts in History in a shorter timeframe, either online or in person. They also offer an in-person PhD in History for advanced scholars.

Find out how to become a historian at the University at Albany.