So you’ve chosen to pursue a degree in history. Great choice! There are many career paths for you to travel down with this type of credential, and the job market for history majors looks really good. And while you may have pursued a degree in history to become an archivist or librarian, you should know there are many other occupations you can pursue that pay a much higher salary. In fact, let’s take a quick look at the highest-paying careers in the field of history.
Foreign Language Professor
Becoming a history professor is most definitely a great accomplishment to make. Becoming a foreign language professor, however, is even more of an accomplishment. Not only will you have a profound knowledge of history and be able to share it with your students, but you will be doing it in another language too. Your role is vital to globalization and the worldwide economy. The starting salary for someone filling this role is $61k a year. With more experience, though, the higher your salary will be.
Geographer
Another way to put your history degree to use is by becoming a geographer. In this line of work, you will be responsible for studying the nature of earth and how it interacts with itself and other parts of the universe. You will use the knowledge you gain to teach others about physical and cultural phenomena. If you prefer, you can teach students at a college or university, or you can land employment through other entities, such as NASA or the other governmental institutions. The starting salary for a geographer tends to be around $74k a year.
Political Scientist
This is not a role that many people go after, but it is definitely one that pays off well. As a political scientist, you will study various political systems, including their origins, developmental processes, and their operations in concordance with one another. The median salary for someone in this position is close to $100k a year. Because job competition among political scientists is not high, you won’t have to fret about landing a job in this role. All you have to focus on is acquiring enough knowledge to fill your role for the company or organization you are wanting to be employed through.
Public Relations Manager
This is another position that most people don’t normally think of when they go to earn a degree in history. As you earn your degree, though, your skills as an effective communicator will be immensely sharpened, making you a huge asset to the public relations industry. Your research skills will propel you even further, allowing you to identify and target audiences based on budget restraints and client specifications. The average income for those working in this role is about $115k a year. As with most other positions, the more experience you get under your belt, the higher your salary will likely be.
Postsecondary Educational Administrator
Beyond teaching at a postsecondary education institution is being an administrator at one of these schools. You’ll hit a six-figure salary in this line of work, but you can expect to fill a large role that demands a lot of your time. Still yet, this is a role that requires passion, and if you have a passion for history and education, then it will be a perfect fit for you. The job growth rate for postsecondary education administrators is 15%, and you will need at least a master’s degree. A doctorate degree will be even more beneficial and likely increase your salary.
Attorney
Law is a field that is based primarily on history. History is a field that is based primarily on facts, not perceptions. Because the two go hand in hand with one another, it should come at no surprise that history majors often find themselves taking courses in pre-law as well. If you have a desire to enter into the legal field and a passion for history, you can do a double major and become an attorney. In 2014, the average income for an attorney was more than $133k a year. The expected job growth rate for positions in this field is 10%. Remember, in addition to your history degree you will also need a professional degree in law to meet the requirements for becoming a lawyer.
Corporate Career
Over the past few decades, many businesses across the globe have developed a preference for graduates with degrees in history and the liberal arts. From executive level positions to marketing roles, there are many corporate career paths that you can follow with your history degree. Your critical thinking skills combined with your writing and research capabilities will be pivotal in a corporate career, giving you an advantage over many of your fellow competitors who are trying to acquire the same role.
The Takeaway
Majoring in history will require you to complete anywhere from two to 10+ years in college. And while your student loan debt may pile up, you should know there are lots of grants and scholarships to take advantage of. More so, there are many career paths that pay high salaries, allowing you to easily pay back your student debt in an efficient amount of time. As you start your journey to earning your history degree, make sure you keep in mind the jobs listed above.
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