Historians
Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
AI Impact Summary
Historians faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 34/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 62% of all analyzed occupations. Of 21 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Historians skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT
by Vanderbilt University
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
21 tasks analyzed
Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as collect data sources such as books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.
Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.
Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.
Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit.
Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.
Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies.
Edit historical society publications.
Advise or consult with individuals and institutions regarding issues such as the historical authenticity of materials or the customs of a specific historical period.
Trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history.
Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as use in CD-ROMs or Internet sites.
Interview people to gather information about historical events and to record oral histories.
Collect detailed information on individuals for use in biographies.
Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials.
Translate or request translation of reference materials.
Teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, museums, and other research agencies and schools.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 4% | |
| Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as collect data sources such as books, pamphlets, and periodicals. | 56.25Observed | 49.5% | 10% | |
| Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials. | 56.12Observed | 49.5% | 6% | |
| Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives. | 57.35Observed | 49.9% | 6% | |
| Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 5% | |
| Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance. | 52Observed | 47.8% | 8% | |
| Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories. | 62.25Observed | 51.9% | 8% | |
| Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period. | 54.12Observed | 48.7% | 8% | |
| Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit. | 70.67Observed | 55.3% | 3% | |
| Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers. | 58.23Observed | 50.3% | 3% | |
| Speak to various groups, organizations, and clubs to promote the aims and activities of historical societies. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 4% | |
| Edit historical society publications. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Advise or consult with individuals and institutions regarding issues such as the historical authenticity of materials or the customs of a specific historical period. | 70.6Observed | 43.2% | 4% | |
| Trace historical development in a particular field, such as social, cultural, political, or diplomatic history. | 63.82Observed | 52.5% | 5% | |
| Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy. | 61.68Observed | 51.7% | 5% | |
| Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as use in CD-ROMs or Internet sites. | 55.55Observed | 71.4% | 3% | |
| Interview people to gather information about historical events and to record oral histories. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 4% | |
| Collect detailed information on individuals for use in biographies. | 67.5Observed | 54.0% | 3% | |
| Coordinate activities of workers engaged in cataloging and filing materials. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 3% | |
| Translate or request translation of reference materials. | 51.75Observed | 69.9% | 2% | |
| Teach and conduct research in colleges, universities, museums, and other research agencies and schools. | 57.7Observed | 38.1% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 28.2%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$74,050
per year
Mean Wage
$78,470
per year
Employment
3K
workers
Wage Range
$38,630 - $128,500
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsReporters and Correspondents
29%Higher risk than 34% of other occupations
Broadcast News Analysts
30%Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Librarians
31%Higher risk than 44% of other occupations
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
32%Median salary: $84,290
Higher risk than 52% of other occupations
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
33%Median salary: $78,050
Higher risk than 54% of other occupations
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
33%Median salary: $86,730
Higher risk than 56% of other occupations
Political Scientists
34%Median salary: $139,380
Higher risk than 60% of other occupations
Geographers
34%Median salary: $97,200
Higher risk than 63% of other occupations
Archivists
35%Median salary: $61,570
Higher risk than 66% of other occupations
Graduate Teaching Assistants
35%Higher risk than 67% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Historians professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change