Ranked list · 31 careers
31 Jobs for History Lovers, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)
Anthropology and Archeology Teacher, Postsecondary tops this list at $99,650 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +2.6% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 31 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 31From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $63,420BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 28 of 31BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 224,700Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers working with the past: historians, archivists, curators, conservators, archaeologists and historic preservation specialists. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Careers working with the past: historians, archivists, curators, conservators, archaeologists and historic preservation specialists. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The list
The top 31 jobs for history lovers
100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
- 1
1. Anthropology and Archeology Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $99,650median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- Doctorate
Teach courses in anthropology or archeology.
- 2
2. History Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $83,820median a year
- Growth
- 0.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Doctorate
Teach courses in human history and historiography.
- 3
3. Architectural Historian
Specialty within historian
- Median pay
- $76,750median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- Master's
Documents and evaluates historic buildings and landscapes to decide whether they are significant and how projects can protect them.
- 4
4. Corporate Historian
Specialty within historian
- Median pay
- $76,750median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- Master's
Researches and tells the history of a company or organization for anniversaries, leadership, marketing and internal culture.
- 5
5. Historian
Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Median pay
- $76,750median a year
- Growth
- +3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- Master's
Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublish…
- 6
6. Public Historian
Specialty within historian
- Median pay
- $76,750median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.0%
- Openings / yr
- 300
- Education
- Master's
A historian who works outside the university, researching and presenting history for government agencies, parks, museums and communities.
- 7
7. Anthropologist
Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Median pay
- $70,770median a year
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 800
- Education
- Master's
Study the origin, development, and behavior of human beings.
- 8
8. Cultural Resources Specialist
Specialty within anthropologist
- Median pay
- $70,770median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 800
- Education
- Master's
An archaeologist or historian, often at a federal or state agency, who protects historic and prehistoric sites on public land and during projects.
- 9
9. Maritime Archaeologist
Specialty within anthropologist
- Median pay
- $70,770median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.0%
- Openings / yr
- 800
- Education
- Master's
Finds, documents and protects shipwrecks, sunken aircraft and submerged sites, often working as a scientific diver.
- 10
10. Archivist
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $64,550median a year
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Master's
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents.
- 11
11. Corporate Archivist
Specialty within archivist
- Median pay
- $64,550median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Master's
Manages a company's historical records, products and brand assets so they can be used for marketing, legal needs and anniversaries.
- 12
12. Forensic Genealogist
Specialty within archivist
- Median pay
- $64,550median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Researches family trees and DNA matches for legal purposes, such as finding missing heirs, identifying unknown remains and helping solve cold cases.
- 13
13. Curator
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $63,420median a year
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Master's
Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions.
- 14
14. Exhibit Developer
Specialty within curator
- Median pay
- $63,420median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Master's
Shapes the story, content and visitor experience of museum exhibitions, from the big idea to the words on every label.
- 15
15. Museum Educator
Specialty within museum technician and conservator
- Median pay
- $51,440median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs and leads tours, school programs, workshops and family activities that help visitors learn from a museum's collection.
- 16
16. Museum Technician and Conservator
Educational Instruction and Library
- Median pay
- $51,440median a year
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit.
- 17
17. Chimney Sweep
Specialty within maintenance and repair worker, general
- Median pay
- $49,590median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 148,700
- Education
- High school
Cleans, inspects and repairs chimneys, fireplaces, wood stoves and venting systems to prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide hazards.
- 18
18. Special Collections Librarian
Specialty within librarian
- Median pay
- $68,270median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 12,600
- Education
- Master's
Builds, cares for and teaches with collections of rare books, manuscripts, maps and other historical materials at a library.
- 19
19. Auction House Specialist
Specialty within appraiser of personal and business property
- Median pay
- $67,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Evaluates, researches and sells fine art, antiques and collectibles at auction houses, advising consignors and buyers.
- 20
20. Watchmaker
Specialty within watch and clock repairer
- Median pay
- $67,230median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 100
- Education
- High school
Services, repairs, and restores mechanical and quartz watches, working at microscopic scale on movements for jewelers, brands, and collectors.
- 21
21. Paleontologist
Specialty within curator
- Median pay
- $63,420median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Master's
Studies fossils to reconstruct the history of life, working in museums, universities, public land agencies and construction mitigation.
- 22
22. Provenance Researcher
Specialty within curator
- Median pay
- $63,420median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.9%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Master's
Traces the ownership history of artworks and artifacts to verify authenticity and identify looted or stolen objects.
- 23
23. Classic Car Restorer
Specialty within automotive body and related repairer
- Median pay
- $54,890median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 12,600
- Education
- High school
Brings classic and antique cars back to original or better condition, repairing metal, engines, interiors, paint and trim by hand.
- 24
24. Art Handler
Specialty within museum technician and conservator
- Median pay
- $51,440median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Packs, moves, crates and installs valuable artworks and artifacts for museums, galleries, auction houses and private collectors.
- 25
25. Book Conservator
Specialty within museum technician and conservator
- Median pay
- $51,440median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Repairs and preserves rare books, manuscripts, maps and documents using traditional bookbinding skills and conservation science.
- 26
26. Herbarium Collections Manager
Specialty within museum technician and conservator
- Median pay
- $51,440median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- Bachelor's
Cares for and manages a herbarium's collection of pressed plant specimens used by botanists, ecologists and researchers.
- 27
27. Pipe Organ Builder
Specialty within musical instrument repairer and tuner
- Median pay
- $46,420median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +1.9%
- Openings / yr
- 600
- Education
- High school
Builds, installs, restores and maintains pipe organs in churches, concert halls and universities.
- 28
28. Neon Sign Bender
Specialty within glass blower, molder, bender, and finisher
- Median pay
- $46,170median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 5,100
- Education
- High school
Heats and bends glass tubing by hand into letters and shapes, then fills it with gas to create glowing neon signs and art.
- 29
29. Stained Glass Artisan
Specialty within craft artist
- Median pay
- $46,080median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.0%
- Openings / yr
- 1,000
- Education
- No formal credential
Designs, builds and restores stained and leaded glass windows for churches, historic buildings, homes and public art projects.
- 30
30. Milliner
Specialty within tailor, dressmaker, and custom sewer
- Median pay
- $41,640median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −8.8%
- Openings / yr
- 3,700
- Education
- No formal credential
Designs and handcrafts hats and headpieces for fashion clients, brides, theater and film productions, and retail shops.
- 31
31. Tour Guide and Escort
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $38,120median a year
- Growth
- +6.3%
- Openings / yr
- 11,900
- Education
- High school
Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
Questions
Jobs for History Lovers: FAQ
What is the top career on the jobs for history lovers list?
Anthropology and Archeology Teacher, Postsecondary leads the list with a median wage of $99,650 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +2.6% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is doctorate.
How was this list put together?
Careers working with the past: historians, archivists, curators, conservators, archaeologists and historic preservation specialists. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers working with the past: historians, archivists, curators, conservators, archaeologists and historic preservation specialists. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do jobs for history lovers pay?
Across the 31 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $63,420 a year, from $38,120 at the bottom to $99,650 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
8 of the 31 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).