Historians can work in a variety of industries. In government, some historians do research to provide historical context for current policy issues. Others write about the history of a particular government activity or program, such as a military operation or the space program. At historical sites and within historical associations, historians preserve artifacts and explain the historical significance of a wide variety of subjects, such as historic buildings, religious groups, and battlegrounds. Historians who work for businesses may examine historical evidence for legal cases and regulatory matters.
Among 2020-2021 Hofstra graduates who majored in history, 95% of survey respondents reported that within one year of graduation they were employed and/or attending or planning to attend graduate school. Among Hofstra graduates who majored in history and who reported salary, the mean annual self-reported salary was $49,000.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for historians was reported as $63,100 per year. Employment of historians is projected to grow by 5% from 2020 to 2030 (see the Occupational Outlook Handbook).
Many Hofstra alumni who were history majors go on to careers teaching K-12. Places of employment our recent alumni are working include:
- Amazon
- CODEPINK
- Fragomen Worldwide
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
- Hearst Corporation
- Herricks Union Free School District
- North Shore School District
- NYC Department of Education
- Tradition Securities and Futures
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc.
Recent history graduates are continuing their studies at the following institutions:
- Brooklyn Law School
- George Mason University
- Hofstra University
- Long Island University
- Stetson University College of Law
- SUNY University at Buffalo
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Trinity College Dublin
- University of Arizona
- University of California, Santa Cruz
Alumni outcomes data is based on the results of Hofstra’s annual Alumni Outcomes Survey and other reliable sources. Of the 1,429 undergraduate students who graduated between August 2020 and May 2021, data was collected via surveys and other reliable sources resulting in knowledge about the outcomes for 67% of the 2020-2021 undergraduate alumni. Salary data is self-reported voluntarily by students and is based upon a 47% response rate for full-time employed undergraduate survey respondents. Salary figures include only annual base salary. They do not include bonus, commission, or any other guaranteed compensation.