by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in History Education covers History Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach History Programs At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the key facts every history education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering history education programs.
In the U.S., history education is a widely-pursued major, with 851 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best History Education Schools ranking analyzes these 132 schools to determine the best overall colleges for history education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of history education programs later in this article.
Coursework for History Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations history education graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a history education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a history education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several history education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 14 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 592 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 245 |
People currently working in careers related to history education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 54.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.9% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in history education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in history education opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to history education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to history education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of history education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for history education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers history education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
With 132 different history education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased history education school rankings to help you.
Those considering history education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
