Career comparison
History Professor vs. Political Science Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Political science professors earn more at the median ($98,070 vs. $83,820), while political science professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). History professors teach college students how the past shaped today and how to study it. Political science professors teach how governments, elections and policy work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| History Professor | Political Science Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $83,820 | $98,070 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $48,410 – $162,160 | $56,450 – $174,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | 0.0% (little or no change) | +2.5% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in history | Ph.D. in political science |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms, offices, libraries and archives.. | Faculty work in classrooms and offices at colleges and universities.. |
What each job does
History Professor
- Teach history courses
- Teach primary source analysis
- Research in archives
- Publish articles and books
- Mentor students
Political Science Professor
- Teach government and politics courses
- Conduct research
- Analyze data on elections and policy
- Publish research
- Mentor students
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, desk work, creative work, and working with people. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose history professor if…
- I love history
- I like digging through archives
- I like writing
Choose political science professor if…
- I love politics and policy
- I can stay neutral in class
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the History Professor fit quiz and the Political Science Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, history professor or political science professor?
Political Science Professors earn more at the median: $98,070 versus $83,820 for history professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Political Science Professors typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than history professors (6–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects political science professors to grow +2.5% from 2025–35, compared with 0.0% for history professors.