What Can You Do With a History Degree?

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about history degrees – that they’re not useful and that they can’t lead to practical job outcomes. Today we’d like to set the record straight by talking about the incredible career prospects you can follow with a history degree.

And we don’t just mean teaching either – although it’s certainly an option. We want to talk about all your options from the fun and creative to the high-paying jobs that nobody talks about, but everybody needs.

What Can You Use a History Degree For?

A history degree might seem like a lot of niche information that won’t come up much in the real world, but, in many respects, that’s missing the forest for the trees. Studying history isn’t just about memorising dates and reading through research. When you study history, you learn a way of working, an approach to research, writing, argumentation, and evidence gathering. Those are skills that come up all over the place.

So can you get a job with a history degree? Absolutely! A bachelor’s degree in history is a strong entry point for all sorts of roles from law and government to business and non-profit work.

And you don’t have to treat it like a set of abstract soft skills either. There are plenty of important, history-related roles. Of course, as we mentioned, teaching is always an option, but that really is just the start. You could become an archivist, a curator, or even pursue a career in academic research.

History Degree Career Paths

If your passion for history is what drives you, then heritage and research is the best direction to go. While these jobs can be competitive, museums, archives, libraries, and historic sites all need people with real knowledge, expertise and passion. Furthermore, if your areas of study really align with the goal of one of these organisations, then you’re a very good fit. Having an understanding of the niche can make a huge difference.

Of course, it’s worth noting that, unless you’re one of a lucky few who pursue a successful career in academia, none of these jobs is likely to offer much in the way of stability. Museums and libraries are often supported by not-for-profit/non-profit organisations and government funding, leading to career instability for almost everyone.

Then again, outside of history, there’s a whole world of options to consider. Many history majors end up going into law and government. It’s also quite common to become paralegals or even attend law school. Keep in mind that there’s a lot of crossover between law and history. You have to be able to read and understand dense documents, and you have to be able to form complex arguments with an understanding of historical context.

There are also media and communications roles. Fields like journalism, editing, and publishing are always looking for people who can write well. As a bonus, history majors know how to work with sources and are often experienced in rhetoric.

The Highest Paying Jobs You Can Do With a History Degree

So with all that said, let’s talk money.

If you’re just coming out of a bachelor’s degree in history and you want to pick the most lucrative career path with no other concerns, then the answer is simple. Go into law. Lawyers earn a median annual wage of around $160K, and the demand is only growing. The downside is that you will need to get a law degree, but if money is your main aim, this is still your best option.

As for roles that use history more directly, the pay can vary a lot, although it is still broadly quite good. Archivists generally earn around  $60-70K, and a small percentage even earn more than six figures. That said, as we noted earlier, job stability is definitely questionable.

If you’re looking for a career that will pay well with long-term stability but don’t want to go to law school, then your best bet is to target roles that rely on your strong writing and communication skills.