Jobs Similar to Historians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to historians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Archivists, Sociologists and Anthropologists and Archeologists.
Historians: $76,750 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Historians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Archivists | 79% | $64,550−16% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | SociologistsSame group | 75% | $106,030+38% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Anthropologists and ArcheologistsSame group | 75% | $70,770−8% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Curators | 74% | $63,420−17% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Political ScientistsSame group | 74% | $142,080+85% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | History Teachers, Postsecondary | 71% | $83,820+9% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | GeographersSame group | 71% | $102,040+33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 71% | $99,650+30% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Survey ResearchersSame group | 70% | $69,460−9% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 70% | $97,590+27% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 70% | $84,290+10% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 69% | $80,340+5% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Intelligence Analysts | 69% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | 68% | $68,270−11% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 68% | $98,070+28% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 67% | $78,760+3% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 67% | $85,020+11% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Proofreaders and Copy Markers | 67% | $51,120−33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Social Science Research Assistants | 67% | $61,990−19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | EconomistsSame group | 67% | $124,720+63% | Graduate degree |
- 1Archivists
79% similar · $64,550 (−16%) · Graduate degree
- 2Sociologists
75% similar · $106,030 (+38%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Anthropologists and Archeologists
75% similar · $70,770 (−8%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Curators
74% similar · $63,420 (−17%) · Graduate degree
- 5Political Scientists
74% similar · $142,080 (+85%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6History Teachers, Postsecondary
71% similar · $83,820 (+9%) · Graduate degree
- 7Geographers
71% similar · $102,040 (+33%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
71% similar · $99,650 (+30%) · Graduate degree
- 9Survey Researchers
70% similar · $69,460 (−9%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
70% similar · $97,590 (+27%) · Graduate degree
- 11Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
70% similar · $84,290 (+10%) · Graduate degree
- 12Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
69% similar · $80,340 (+5%) · Graduate degree
- 13Intelligence Analysts
69% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
68% similar · $68,270 (−11%) · Graduate degree
- 15Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
68% similar · $98,070 (+28%) · Graduate degree
- 16English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
67% similar · $78,760 (+3%) · Graduate degree
- 17Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
67% similar · $85,020 (+11%) · Graduate degree
- 18Proofreaders and Copy Markers
67% similar · $51,120 (−33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Social Science Research Assistants
67% similar · $61,990 (−19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Economists
67% similar · $124,720 (+63%) · Graduate degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than historians.
- Political Scientists74% similar · $142,080 (+85%)
- Economists67% similar · $124,720 (+63%)
- Sociologists75% similar · $106,030 (+38%)
- Geographers71% similar · $102,040 (+33%)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary71% similar · $99,650 (+30%)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary68% similar · $98,070 (+28%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for historians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where historians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Archivists (89)
- Curators (84)
- History Teachers, Postsecondary (75)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (70)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (67)
- Museum Technicians and Conservators (67)
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (65)
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (65)
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers (64)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (63)
Questions about jobs like historians
What jobs are most similar to historians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Archivists (79% similar), Sociologists (75% similar), Anthropologists and Archeologists (75% similar), Curators (74% similar) and Political Scientists (74% similar).
Which jobs like historians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Political Scientists ($142,080, +85%; usually a graduate degree), Economists ($124,720, +63%; usually a graduate degree) and Sociologists ($106,030, +38%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with historians ($76,750). Without more preparation than historians usually need: Political Scientists, Economists and Sociologists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.