I work on preserving the buildings and history of this location. I also manage the tours, museum, and shops on site to give guests an authentic experience.
CAREER
Historians
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$63,940
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+4.5% (slower than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Historians Do
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and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
Other Job Titles Historians May Have
Historian, Historic Sites Registrar, Research Associate, Researcher
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
There are many phases of creating these technical documents. First there is the research on the historic buildings, then the photo documenting of the buildings, next the technical documents have to be written explaining why the structures are historically and/or architecturally significant. The last part is doing a map of the collective buildings or a floor plan of a building.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
- Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.
- Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Historians
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (24%)
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Historic Preservation and Conservation, General
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
You have to be willing to take chances and follow your vision.
Cartography is essential as well as concise writing.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Everyone
Patience. Research can be tedious and time consuming.
You have to make a living, but choose a field that you are interested in. Follow your passions.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
