What Can You Do With a Degree in History?

According to the New York Federal Reserve Bank's 2017 Labor Market study, history majors earn a mid-career median salary of $62,000 a year, which is roughly $25,000 higher than the national median salary reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Brooklyn College history students go on to work in a variety of industries, including but not limited to: law, education, government, administration, politics, human resources, publishing, social services, and more. The degree builds strong skills that employers are seeking and are applicable to a variety of fields. The key is being able to market those skills and talk about your education and experience and how it translates to what the employer is seeking.

Students with history degrees often seek higher education and receive a master's degree in a related field. History students are equipped with critical thinking and research skills that translate well into all industries.

Top Employers for Brooklyn College History Alumni (based on LinkedIn)

There is a lot of information available on LinkedIn, including profiles of more than 1,000 Brooklyn College alumni who graduated with a degree in history. Join the Brooklyn College Alumni group and see where alumni are currently working, their skill sets, and their career progression. You can filter further based on employer, class year, etc.

Keep in mind, this list isn’t inclusive of all the opportunities available to history students. Use the Magner Career Center resources to your advantage to find opportunities that align with your interests!

Here are some career guides and articles that share information on career options open to history majors:

The Power of a Liberal Arts Degree

Students are known to gain a variety of interpersonal skills as liberal arts majors, and according to an article by NACE, employers value and are seeking skills the following skills:

Global/Intercultural Fluency
Oral/Written Communications
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Leadership
Teamwork/Collaboration
Digital Technology

For more information, visit the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Benefits of a Degree in the Humanities and Social Sciences webpage about the value of a liberal arts degree.

What is the average salary for a history major?

Many different factors can affect the average history major salary, including geographic location, education level, type of industry, and level of experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for historians in 2018 was $61,140 per year.

I am a history major. What skills will I build during my studies?

According to The Wall Street Journal, "Technical skills turn over fast, so employers are looking for fast learners who can quickly evolve and have exceptional soft skills—the ability to write, listen and communicate effectively."

As history majors, students listen, read, write and present information in a wide range of ways. All are essential skills, no matter what the job field.

See the following resources for information on these skills:

Each year NACE surveys employers, and the results show that employers value and are seeking skills that are built by a history/liberal arts degree. The competencies include:

Critical Thinking / Problem Solving
Digital Technology
Global / Intercultural Fluency
Leadership
Oral / Written Communications
Teamwork / Collaboration

On-Campus Resources

There are a number of resources on campus that will help you learn more about history career options. Attend events and keep current on the resources available to you.

Magner Career Center

The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.

The center hosts frequent career events, which include panels with history alumni, visits from museums, and workshops tailored to the social sciences.
For those considering law, careers check out the Pre-Law page.
You can get matched with alumni that majored in history at Brooklyn College to learn about their experiences, seek career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
The center's YouTube channel features videos of history alumni, students, employers, and events, including alumnus Terrence Stroud and 'What Can You Do With a Degree in History?'
HireBC offers starter, competitive internships, and even jobs postings from Brooklyn College's dedicated Job Board. Access HireBC via the Brooklyn College WebCentral Portal, under the Career Tab. Many alumni post positions with hopes of working with Brooklyn College students. Upload your résumé for higher-level positions that require an "approved" résumé.
Pamela Brown is the liaison to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the center's website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.

Department of History Resources

Student Clubs

Association of Mock Trial Litigants
BC Historical Society
Brooklyn College UNICEF
Marketing Society
Model United Nations
Pre-Law Club
Student Government
TEDXCUNY
Vanguard (formerly Excelsior and The Kingsman)
Young Progressives of America
New York Public Interest Research Group

To find all clubs and the latest events, search for the names of clubs and sign in to RSVP for the events you would like to attend.

Off-Campus Resources

Additional Resources

Vault

For pre-law students who are interested in taking time off before law school, you can find paralegal positions for recent graduates on each law firm's website.

MeetUp

CUNY Meetups host various events throughout the semester open to all CUNY students and alumni. Meet up groups that may be of interest include LifeSci, Civic to name a few.