Is history a high paying major?

A History major isn't inherently high-paying like engineering or computer science, with average salaries around $60k-$70k, but its strong research and critical thinking skills open doors to well-paid careers in law, consulting, tech, government, and business, especially with advanced degrees, allowing top earners to reach six figures. While pure historian roles (curator, archivist) pay moderately, leveraging the degree for other fields leads to higher earning potential, making passion for the subject key if not pursuing advanced degrees for specialized roles.

Do history majors make good money?

How much does a History Major make? As of Jan 15, 2026, the average annual pay for a History Major in the United States is $62,115 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $29.86 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,194/week or $5,176/month.

What is the highest paying job for a history major?

History degrees build strong research, critical thinking, and communication skills, leading to high-paying roles in corporate strategy, law, marketing, policy analysis, and government, with potential earnings over $100k in fields like Corporate Strategy, Law (Attorney), Marketing Manager, and Political Scientist, leveraging historical context to drive business and public policy decisions. 

Is a major in history worth it?

Yes, a history degree is worth it for the highly transferable skills it provides (critical thinking, research, writing) and opens doors to diverse careers in business, law, tech, and education, though traditional historian roles often require further education; its value depends on balancing passion for the subject with career goals, as it's more about broad skills than specific job training. 

What profession makes $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300k/year are typically senior-level roles in medicine, law, finance, and tech, requiring extensive experience, specialized skills, or entrepreneurship, including surgeons, investment bankers, senior software architects, big law partners, and successful business owners. High-commission sales and specialized trades (like powerline workers) can also reach this level, sometimes without a traditional degree, but demand proven performance and significant expertise. 

The most useless degrees…

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

What jobs pay $500,000 annually?

Jobs paying $500k a year are typically high-level executive, specialized medical, or top-tier finance/sales roles, including Neurosurgeons/Specialized Surgeons, Investment Bankers/Private Equity, Tech Executives/Senior Engineers, Top Sales Executives (Enterprise/Tech), Law Firm Partners, and Successful Entrepreneurs/Business Owners, often requiring extensive experience, specialized skills, and performance-based compensation (like commissions or bonuses). 

Are history majors in decline?

Description. From 1969 to 1985, the History major experienced its most substantial decrease, which followed the surge in college attendance during the 1960s. Today, the major has reached its lowest enrollment levels since that time.

Do historians get paid well?

Historians' salaries vary widely, but many earn a decent living, with the median around $74,000 in the US as of 2024, though top earners in federal government or specialized consulting can exceed $128,000, while academic positions often range from $50k to over $100k depending on tenure and institution. Good money isn't typical from book royalties, but rather from stable roles in government, consulting, museums, or universities, making the "good money" aspect dependent on the specific industry and location, not just the title. 

Which career is best for history?

For example, many history graduates enter the following careers:

• accountancy.
• journalism.
• law.
• librarianship.
• museum studies.
• teaching.

What job pays $1 million a year?

Jobs paying over $1 million annually are typically in C-suite executive leadership, high-finance (investment banking, private equity), specialized medicine (surgeons, anesthesiologists), top-tier tech (star engineers/execs with stock), and ultra-luxury sales or real estate, often driven by massive bonuses, commissions, or equity, demanding immense responsibility, long hours, and exceptional performance. 

What should I major in if I like history?

A bachelor's degree in history provides an excellent foundation for graduate school. Our graduates are well prepared to pursue advanced degrees in history, musuem studies, library science, business, education, public policy, journalism, law, and medicine.

What profession makes $400,000 a year?

Professions making $400,000 a year generally fall into medicine (specialty surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists), high-level corporate roles (CEOs, C-Suite), finance (investment banking, top finance execs), law (partners), technology (senior engineers, tech sales), and top-tier sales (medical equipment, enterprise software). These roles demand significant education, experience, specialized skills, or high performance, often with compensation including bonuses and stock. 

Is history a difficult major?

Is History a Hard Major? Any degree program can be challenging, and history is no different. If you're learning what you love, though, the challenge can be enjoyable. It's important to note that with history, you need to be prepared to do a lot of reading.

What jobs in history pay well?

7 history degree jobs: What jobs can you get with a history degree?

• Analyst. Median annual US salary: $76,950 [2] ...
• Researcher. Median annual US salary: $74,050 [3] ...
• Marketing manager. Median annual US salary: $159,660 [4] ...
• Technical writer. ...
• Legal assistant or paralegal. ...
• Archivist or curator. ...
• Grant writer.

What profession makes $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300k/year are typically senior-level roles in medicine, law, finance, and tech, requiring extensive experience, specialized skills, or entrepreneurship, including surgeons, investment bankers, senior software architects, big law partners, and successful business owners. High-commission sales and specialized trades (like powerline workers) can also reach this level, sometimes without a traditional degree, but demand proven performance and significant expertise. 

Is a history degree worth it?

Yes, a history degree is worth it for the highly transferable skills it provides (critical thinking, research, writing) and opens doors to diverse careers in business, law, tech, and education, though traditional historian roles often require further education; its value depends on balancing passion for the subject with career goals, as it's more about broad skills than specific job training. 

What's the rarest major?

There isn't one single "rarest major," but rather a group of very niche fields like Puppet Arts, Egyptology, Ecogastronomy, Bagpiping, and Fermentation Science, often offered at specific universities, attracting few students due to their specialized nature, limited broad career paths, or unique focus, though they can lead to rewarding careers in arts, museums, parks, or food industries. 

Is it hard to get a job as a historian?

Despite limited employment growth, about 300 openings for historians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

What is the #1 major in the US?

The most popular college majors in the United States are business, health, and social sciences, according to data from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). Of the 2 million bachelor's degrees conferred in the US during the 2021-2022 school year, these three majors made up almost 40 percent [1].

Which is the no. 1 high salary job?

The number one highest-paying job consistently ranks as Pediatric Surgeon, specializing in complex surgeries for children, followed closely by other medical specialists like Cardiologists, Anesthesiologists, and Neurosurgeons, due to extensive training, high responsibility, and critical skills, with CEOs and top tech/finance roles also offering very high earning potential. 

What job pays you $2 million a year?

Physician Dermatology - Competitive Salary

over 2 million in the United States.

How many Americans make over 200k?

Around 14-16% of U.S. households earn over $200,000 annually, which translates to roughly 15 million households based on recent data, though figures vary slightly depending on the source and year (e.g., 14.88 million households in 2022 vs. 16% share in 2024). This places them in a relatively high income bracket, with figures showing this group accounts for a significant portion of total income, notes this Wikipedia article on household income.