| 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. |
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| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 99 (%) | Description: Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Conduct educational activities for school children. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas. |
History Careers and Jobs
Select, Find and Prepare for History Careers and Jobs - all on one page
For people who love research and writing and want flexibility across education, museums, law, or policy. Use the tools below to see which history roles fit your background and goals.
Like other humanities majors, history's value lies in transferable research and analytical-writing skills rather than one dedicated job title. Use the tools below to explore History-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like Archive Assistant, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Museum Curator or Historian/Archivist. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as Certified Archivist (CA), that can help you move up the career ladder.
Here is a short Helper Video 
This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from History careers/jobs, (2) Find History job listings, (3) Prepare for History careers, and (4) Provide History career-specific resources.
Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of History careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing History Careers - 2023 to 2033 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving History careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to History, so relevant History jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. History Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) History Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify History careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 33 History Jobs.
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 job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title 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 chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.
** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links 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. Can also assist with coffee chats.
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/Job
7 History careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2023 to 2033 est.). History-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:
| Occupations | U.S. Job Openings 2023-2033 (% change) | History-Related Jobs |
7 History careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). History-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::
| Occupations | National Median Salary | History-Related Jobs |
8 History careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. History-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.
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Education/Preparation Categories: 5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) 4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree 3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree 2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always Please Scroll and Select below: |
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| Occupations | Education/Preparation | History-Related Jobs |
Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 33 specific History job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:
Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below
Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Find Job Listings:
Tour Guides and Escorts.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Tour Guides and Escorts
Description: Escort individuals or groups on sightseeing tours or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, and art galleries.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Tour Guides and Escorts":
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. |
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| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid or directing emergency evacuations. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices. |
| Importance: 57 (%) | Description: Train other guides and volunteers. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Solicit tour patronage and sell souvenirs. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure. |
| Importance: 46 (%) | Description: Provide information about wildlife varieties and habitats, as well as any relevant regulations, such as those pertaining to hunting and fishing. |
| Importance: 45 (%) | Description: Distribute brochures, show audiovisual presentations, and explain establishment processes and operations at tour sites. |
| Importance: 40 (%) | Description: Collect fees and tickets from group members. |
| Importance: 33 (%) | Description: Perform clerical duties, such as filing, typing, operating switchboards, or routing mail and messages. |
| Importance: 27 (%) | Description: Speak foreign languages to communicate with foreign visitors. |
| Importance: 26 (%) | Description: Teach skills, such as proper climbing methods, and demonstrate and advise on the use of equipment. |
| Importance: 26 (%) | Description: Drive motor vehicles to transport visitors to establishments and tour site locations. |
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: 86 (%) | Description: Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | 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: 80 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | 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: 66 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
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: |
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| Administer first aid. | |
| Collect fares or payment from customers. | |
| Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use. | |
| Distribute resources to patrons or employees. | |
| Drive vehicles to transport patrons. | |
| Explain regulations, policies, or procedures. | |
| Gather information in order to provide services to clients. | |
| Greet customers, patrons, or visitors. | |
| Guide patrons on tours. | |
| Monitor availability of equipment or supplies. | |
| Monitor patron activities to identify problems or potential problems. | |
| Organize recreational activities or events. | |
| Perform administrative or clerical tasks. | |
| Promote products, services, or programs. | |
| Provide attraction or event information to patrons. | |
| Provide patrons with directions to locales or attractions. | |
| Respond to customer inquiries. | |
| Sell products or services. | |
| Teach daily living skills or behaviors. | |
| Train service staff. | |
| 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: 87 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | 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: 71 (%) | Description: History and Archeology: Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | 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. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | 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. |
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: 64 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | 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. |
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? |
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| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people. |
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: Administer emergency medical treatment. |
| Activity: Collect fares or payments. |
| Activity: Coordinate group, community, or public activities. |
| Activity: Distribute materials, supplies, or resources. |
| Activity: Escort others. |
| Activity: Explain regulations, policies, or procedures. |
| Activity: Gather information from physical or electronic sources. |
| Activity: Interpret language, cultural, or religious information for others. |
| Activity: Monitor individual behavior or performance. |
| Activity: Monitor resources or inventories. |
| Activity: Operate transportation equipment or vehicles. |
| Activity: Perform administrative or clerical activities. |
| Activity: Promote products, services, or programs. |
| Activity: Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motorists. |
| Activity: Provide information to guests, clients, or customers. |
| Activity: Respond to customer problems or inquiries. |
| Activity: Sell products or services. |
| Activity: Teach life skills. |
| Activity: Train others on operational or work procedures. |
| Activity: Train others to use equipment or products. |
Software Skills
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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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| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||
| Microsoft Access | |||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||
| Microsoft Outlook | |||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||
| Adobe Photoshop | |||||
| Internet browser software: | |||||
| Apple Safari | |||||
| Office suite software: | |||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||
| Presentation software: | |||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||
| Video conferencing software: | |||||
| Zoom | |||||
| Web page creation and editing software: | |||||
| Word processing software: | |||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||
| General Software Tools | |||||
| Computer based training software: | |||||
| Padlet | |||||
| Customer relationship management CRM software (scroll table below): | |||||
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| Electronic mail software: | |||||
| Email software | |||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||
| SmugMug Flickr | |||||
| Internet browser software: | |||||
| Microsoft Internet Explorer | |||||
| Mobile location based services software: | |||||
| Global positioning system GPS software | |||||
| Presentation software: | |||||
| Pear Deck |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed |
| Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. |
| Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
| These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants. |
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: 31.0 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 30.0 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 21.8 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.7 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate |
| Frequency of Attainment: 4.1 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.1 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.7 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.5 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
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: 39.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 22.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 4.8 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 4.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
Local Salary Information
There are no Salary data available for this occupation - updates are made quarterly
Certifications
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
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Certified Cruise Counsellor
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Certified Tour Guide / Director
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Certified Tour Professional
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Elite Cruise Counsellor
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Master Cruise Counsellor
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Travel Agent Executive
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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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United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA)
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Job Listings
| Job Listings and Similar Occupational Titles - scroll and click to identify common requirements, keywords, and skills in current job listings |
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources
This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Tour Guides and Escorts". 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): Tour Guides and Escorts
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.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
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