Hiring guide · Science, Engineering & Lab
How to Hire a Historian
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring historians, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $76,750), recruit through community college and university engineering technology and science programs, verify Master’s in history where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for historians
There are about 3,800 historians employed in the U.S., with roughly 300 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +3.0% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $42,730–$57,290 | $20.54–$27.54 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $131,810 | $63.37 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Master's degree (typical entry level)
- Historical research
- Curiosity
Nice-to-haves
- Master’s in history
- Ph.D.
- Archives certificate
- Experience with archival databases
Where to find historians
- Community college and university engineering technology and science programs
- Co-op and internship programs
- Professional societies such as ASCE, ASME and IEEE
- Military technical veterans
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Public Historian, Research Historian, Archival Historian, Museum Historian
Screening checklist
- Degree, transcript or credential verification (PE, FE, ASCP) where required
- A practical exercise, lab test or CAD drawing review
- Background checks for regulated or secure facilities
- Reference checks focused on accuracy and documentation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe your research.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
2. “Have you done public history?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
3. “Show a writing sample.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
4. “How do you engage the public?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
5. “Why history?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Conduct an Oral History Interview (see the steps)
- Write Museum Exhibit Text (see the steps)
- Prepare a National Register Nomination (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Primary source, Secondary source, Oral history
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Historian 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Historian training. Show them the path forward: Research Assistant → Historian → Senior Historian → Chief Historian.
Hiring historians: FAQ
How much should I pay a historian?
The U.S. median wage for historians is $76,750 per year ($36.90/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($57,290), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($99,990). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a historian have?
BLS lists “master's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Master’s in history and Ph.D. where relevant, plus skills such as historical research, archival methods, and writing.
How long does it take to train a new historian?
Becoming qualified typically takes 2 years after a bachelor’s. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”