History Teachers
O*NET title: History Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Also called: Adjunct Art History Professor, Adjunct History Instructor, Adjunct Instructor, African History Professor, American History Professor, Art History Adjunct Professor
Median pay
$83,820
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$48,410 – $162,160
People employed
18,790
Holland code
SIA
Social · Investigative · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 2.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 5.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
History Teachers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (44 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What history teachers do
- 01Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- 02Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as ancient history, postwar civilizations, and the history of third-world countries.
- 03Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- 04Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 05Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- 06Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- History and Archeology
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
- Geography
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from history teachers
- Sociologists80% · +26%
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education77% · −14%
- Political Scientists77% · +70%
- Instructional Coordinators76% · −8%
- Historians75% · −8%
Change into history teachers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Anthropologists and Archeologists83% · $70,770
- Historians81% · $76,750
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education74% · $64,370
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education74% · $72,040
- Sociologists73% · $106,030
Majors that lead here
- History Teacher Education
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- Holocaust and Related Studies
- Ancient Studies/Civilization
- Classical, Ancient Mediterranean, and Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology
- Classical and Ancient Studies, Other
- History and Language/Literature
- History and Political Science
- History of Medicine
- History, General
- American History (United States)
- European History
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.