Historian
Education required for this profession
Graduates with master’s degrees in applied specialties usually are qualified for positions outside of colleges and universities, although requirements vary by field. A Ph.D. degree may be required for higher-level positions. Bachelor’s degree holders have limited opportunities and do not qualify for most of the occupations discussed above. A bachelor’s degree does, however, provide a suitable background for many different kinds of entry-level jobs in related occupations, such as research assistant, writer, management trainee, or market analyst. Many social science students also benefit from internships or field experience. Numerous local museums, historical societies, government agencies, non-profit and other organizations offer internships or volunteer research opportunities. Archaeological field schools instruct future anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians in how to excavate, record, and interpret historical sites.
Relevant Degree/Diploma/CertificateMasters degree in applied specialities
Quick Facts
About 41 percent of these workers are employed by governments, mostly by the Federal Government.
The educational attainment of social scientists is among the highest of all occupations, with most positions requiring a master’s or Ph.D. degree.
Overall employment is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations, but varies by specialty.
Job seekers may face competition, and those with higher educational attainment will have the best prospects.
SalaryAnthropologists and archaeologists have median annual wage-and-salary earnings of $49,930; geographers, $62,990; historians, $48,520; political scientists, $90,140; and sociologists, $60,290.