The best careers for history majors: History majors develop strong communication and critical reasoning skills, and develop a broad understanding of societal trends.
They also develop excellent work habits, including the ability to multitask, be independent, and schedule their own time well. And the best part is that history majors tend to earn higher salaries than their counterparts in other majors.
Moreover, careers in this field are in high demand, as it is the most widely-studied subject in the United States.
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Best Careers For History Majors
Here are some of the best careers to pursue as history majors:
Park rangers
Aspiring park rangers can get valuable experience by volunteering at museums, historical sites, monuments, and municipal parks departments. For those with a 3.5 GPA, special hiring provisions are available for students with relevant work experience.
Aspiring park rangers should also consider pursuing careers in journalism. Park rangers typically earn between $27,000 and $61,000 per year. A history teacher earns about $78,000 a year. They help students understand historical concepts, provide academic advising, and set up internships.
While a history major may think of a career in history as solely academic, park rangers are often responsible for managing public parks, creating budgets, and overseeing recreational activities.
These positions require a strong background in geography and communication, and a degree in tourism or recreation could prove to be valuable in their role. Other park rangers even create and repair environmental assets found in public parks.
As a park ranger, you need to understand important historical events and their impacts. You also need to understand the physical attributes of land, such as the topography and its various features. Park rangers must also understand how safety measures can be implemented to ensure public safety.
Moreover, knowledge of societal trends may prove to be beneficial. A high school education is usually required for entry-level positions. However, higher-level positions require a bachelor’s degree.
For anyone interested in pursuing this career, it is important to realize that the job market for park ranger positions is competitive, so experience is key. Summer volunteering is an excellent way to gain valuable experience while preparing for a full-time job after graduation.
Many dedicated future rangers start their careers by volunteering in a park in high school or college. They can build a strong network of insiders, especially if they volunteer in the same park several times.
Archivists
As the custodians of history’s past, archivists organize and catalogue important documents. They also provide access to these documents to the public and perform preservation-related tasks.
The job of an archivist requires strong research skills, attention to detail, and creativity. It also requires natural curiosity. Many archivist jobs require a strong computer skills, and some require expertise in a particular subject. Internship experience is also an asset.
History majors can also work as journalists or writers. Writing for newspapers, magazines, and the media requires a strong research skills and the ability to communicate complex information in a clear way.
Journalism salaries are usually modest and average at $46,270 per year, but the top 10 percent earn more than $117,170. Writers can also work as grant writers.
Many historical sites rely on grant funding to operate, and grant writers ensure that applications are attractive to maximize the chances of receiving an award.
In addition to cataloging historical documents and arranging electronic repositories, archivists may also provide reference services for the public. They can also help museum staff with educational programs.
In addition, archivists may be involved in genealogy research, which interests a growing number of Americans. These archivists may also be involved in other outreach activities. So, if you’re a history major who is considering a career in this field, here are a few tips to get you started.
Archivists can work in many types of settings, from small historical societies to corporate archives. Many of them have the opportunity to work in government archives, but some of them specialize in particular fields.
For example, the National Archives in Washington, D.C., houses millions of government documents. This profession requires extensive knowledge of government records. The job of an archivist may also require a master’s degree.
Journalists
As an history major, you may wonder how to make money with your degree. There are many options. Besides the traditional academic career paths, you can also pursue a graduate degree or law school.
If you love history, you can check out the list of careers of famous history majors to see what they’ve done with their degree.
A history major will learn critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, and communication skills. You can even find employment in a non-history-related career field, like consulting or sales.
Among the many opportunities, journalism offers a unique blend of creative freedom and high-stakes responsibility. If you love writing and have a passion for the field, becoming a journalist may be the right career for you.
It is a profession that’s always changing, and there is no one right way to be a journalist. However, there are some tips you can follow to make sure you’ll have a rewarding career.
Another career option for history majors is to become a researcher. If you’re good at analyzing and organizing data, you can pursue a career in research. There are numerous opportunities for this, including online publications, film, and TV productions.
You can also work for companies that conduct market research. For example, Nielsen hires people to conduct huge amounts of data on products and services. In addition, you can even work for yourself, working as a freelance writer.
As a history major, you’ll have a distinct advantage in journalism. It requires excellent writing skills, as well as experience. You’ll have the opportunity to study different cultures and write about them.
You’ll also have an edge in this field if you’re good at listening to sources and communicating information creatively. As an added bonus, you can work as a journalist in a variety of media.
Public historians
While studying history, you may become interested in government careers. Some government careers open to history majors include working as an FBI agent or a Foreign Service officer in the State Department.
You may also choose to become an independent researcher, working for government agencies, publishing nonfiction books, or writing for magazines and newspapers. Public historians are among the most prominent examples of government jobs.
These professionals produce works that are accessible to the public and educate the public about historical events and topics.
For history majors, working as a public historian is an excellent choice. This career requires a great deal of research, writing, and networking. Once you’ve honed your analytical skills, you can pursue a policy role.
Public historians are among the most well-paid careers in the field and are frequently sought after by law firms and political parties alike. You can even work in public policy development to help create new policies.
Public historians are among the best careers for a history major because they are constantly researching and presenting historical information to the public. They also have a unique set of skills, and this training is crucial in a wide variety of jobs.
For instance, public historians have to be very good at oral presentations, so they need to learn how to present complicated information in a short period of time. Besides this, history majors must have excellent communication skills and be well-spoken and persuasive.
The career of a public historian can be very rewarding and can help a student make a significant contribution to their communities. They must be able to interpret historical events and draw connections among them, as well as understand and analyze the historical sources used in their work.
They should also be able to analyze historical data and use it in writing. This broad knowledge will be useful in a variety of industries and jobs.
Government administration
After graduating from college, history majors may want to consider careers that require research and writing. For instance, they may find great satisfaction in positions in which they can study historical trends and present their findings to others.
A history major may even wish to pursue a graduate degree in history. Depending on where their interests lie, they may also find a great job in the public sector. In any case, they are highly marketable.
Many government positions require students with a history background to understand historical events. These positions require extensive research, preparing written reports and arguing points logically.
Some examples of government jobs for history majors include legislative aide, intelligence officer, lobbyist, urban planning researcher, and public policy analyst.
In addition, many history majors pursue careers in journalism, publishing, and entertainment. These opportunities may be more lucrative than you might think.
Other careers for history majors include teaching, education, and law. Some majors also choose to work in museums and archives, while others may become attorneys or educators.
Others choose to become archivists, librarians, or museum curators. However, there are many other options that may require additional education. And, in addition to government jobs, history majors may find great success in the non-profit sector.
Those with an undergraduate degree in history are also well prepared for a career in journalism. Journalism positions require writing and editing, as well as critical thinking.
A history major may choose to work for a magazine or newspaper, write investigative journalism, or even write their own books. Editors need excellent writing and organizational skills.
The salaries for these jobs vary greatly, and many history graduates earn around $60,000 a year.
