Career comparison
Archaeologist vs. Historian
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Historians earn more at the median ($76,750 vs. $70,770), while historians usually get to work faster (2 years after a bachelor’s of training). Archaeologists uncover and study artifacts and sites to learn about past human life. Historians research and interpret the past for governments, museums and the public.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Archaeologist | Historian | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $70,770 ($34.02/hr) | $76,750 ($36.90/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $49,050 – $108,060 | $42,730 – $131,810 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.0% (faster than average) | +3.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 800 | 300 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | Bachelor’s plus field school; master’s for leadership | 2 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | RPA | Master’s in history |
| Work setting | Archaeologists work outdoors at sites and in labs and offices.. | Historians work in offices, archives, museums and historic sites.. |
What each job does
Archaeologist
- Survey sites
- Excavate
- Record finds
- Analyze artifacts
- Write reports
Historian
- Research archives
- Conduct oral histories
- Write reports
- Develop exhibits
- Preserve records
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, working with information, and high-pay. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose archaeologist if…
- I love history
- I like fieldwork
- I’m patient
Choose historian if…
- I love history
- I like archives
- I write well
Still torn? Take the Archaeologist fit quiz and the Historian fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, archaeologist or historian?
Historians earn more at the median: $76,750 versus $70,770 for archaeologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Historians typically train faster (2 years after a bachelor’s) than archaeologists (Bachelor’s plus field school; master’s for leadership).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects archaeologists to grow +6.0% from 2025–35, compared with +3.0% for historians.