| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Interview people to gather information about historical events and to record oral histories. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Advise or consult with individuals and institutions regarding issues such as the historical authenticity of materials or the customs of a specific historical period. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history. |
Masters Degree Entry Level Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with a Masters Degree, having 1 year or less of work experience - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary, including % with Masters Degree, and % with 1 year experience (or less).
These entry-level roles are suited to new master's degree graduates entering specialized or advanced practice positions. For recent graduates ready to apply advanced coursework to their first professional role. Compare starting salaries and degree-holder percentages, then access preparation resources built for new graduates.
Here is a short Helper Video 
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Masters Degree, to (1) Select an entry-level career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Masters Degree entry-level careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover entry-level careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Master Degree Jobs
What entry level jobs can you get with a Master's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are entry level careers (1 year or less work experience) related to the Master's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having a Master's Degree. - 44 specific careers are listed. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those occupations that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of occupations. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Masters Degree) / (% having less than 1 year experience) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Historians.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Historians" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Historians
Description: Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Historians":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
3,100U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
3,300
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
200 (5.5%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
300
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Collect detailed information on individuals for use in biographies. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Translate or request translation of reference materials. |
| Importance: 57 (%) | Description: Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Edit historical society publications. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, museums, and other research agencies and schools. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Collect archival data. | |
| Collect data about customer needs. | |
| Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys. | |
| Communicate with clients about products, procedures, and policies. | |
| Conduct historical research. | |
| Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments. | |
| Design layout of art or product exhibits, displays, or promotional materials. | |
| Edit documents. | |
| Edit written materials. | |
| Evaluate characteristics of archival or historical objects. | |
| Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines. | |
| Manage clerical or administrative activities. | |
| Plan social sciences research. | |
| Prepare materials for preservation, storage, or display. | |
| Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations. | |
| Recommend changes or corrective procedures. | |
| Translate information for others. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: History and Archeology: Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Geography: Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Instructing: Teaching others how to do something. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Advise others on business or operational matters. |
| Activity: Arrange displays or decorations. |
| Activity: Collect data about consumer needs or opinions. |
| Activity: Collect information about patients or clients. |
| Activity: Create visual designs or displays. |
| Activity: Develop research plans or methodologies. |
| Activity: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures. |
| Activity: Edit written materials or documents. |
| Activity: Explain regulations, policies, or procedures. |
| Activity: Gather information from physical or electronic sources. |
| Activity: Inspect characteristics or conditions of materials or products. |
| Activity: Interpret language, cultural, or religious information for others. |
| Activity: Present research or technical information. |
| Activity: Research historical or social issues. |
| Activity: Teach academic or vocational subjects. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| High-Priority Tech Skills | |||||||||||
| Document management software: | |||||||||||
| Adobe Acrobat | |||||||||||
| Geographic information system: | |||||||||||
| ESRI ArcGIS software | |||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||
| IBM SPSS Statistics | |||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Access Structured query language SQL | |||||||||||
| Desktop publishing software: | |||||||||||
| Adobe InDesign | |||||||||||
| Document management software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft SharePoint | |||||||||||
| Enterprise application integration software: | |||||||||||
| Extensible markup language XML | |||||||||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||||||||
| Adobe Photoshop | |||||||||||
| Web platform development software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP | |||||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||
| Statistical analysis software | |||||||||||
| Data base management system software: | |||||||||||
| Database management systems Relational database management system RDMS | |||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||
| Gutenberg-e Reference management software | |||||||||||
| Data mining software: | |||||||||||
| Text mining software TokenX | |||||||||||
| Desktop publishing software: | |||||||||||
| QuarkXPress | |||||||||||
| Document management software: | |||||||||||
| Web Scrapbook | |||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||
| Email software | |||||||||||
| Geographic information system: | |||||||||||
| Geographic information system GIS software Geographic information system GIS systems | |||||||||||
| Industrial control software: | |||||||||||
| Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software Wonderware software | |||||||||||
| Information retrieval or search software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Internet browser software: | |||||||||||
| Page markers Web browser software | |||||||||||
| Map creation software: | |||||||||||
| Digital mapping software | |||||||||||
| Music or sound editing software: | |||||||||||
| Audio editing software | |||||||||||
| Optical character reader OCR or scanning software: | |||||||||||
| Scanning software | |||||||||||
| Web page creation and editing software: | |||||||||||
| Adobe Dreamweaver | |||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||
| Corel WordPerfect Office Suite |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed |
| Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. |
| Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). |
| Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. |
| These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 64.5 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 10.2 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.4 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.2 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
| Frequency of Attainment: 6.5 (%) | Level of Education: Doctoral Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.8 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.5 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 31.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 27.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 10.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 4.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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American Historical Association (AHA)
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Job Listings
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Historians". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Historians
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
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