How To Become A History Instructor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a history instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

David McMahan Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a history instructor. For example, did you know that they make an average of $26.22 an hour? That's $54,541 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 159,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a history instructor?

David McMahan Ph.D.

Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College

Keep open to possibilities beyond the narrow range of what your diploma lists as your major or minor. Whatever job you get trained for today, in 10-20 years, it may be very different. Or it may not exist. Focus on obtaining and maintaining flexibility, critical thinking, creativity, and passion for learning. Being an interesting person is as vital as any credential.

ScoreHistory InstructorUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $54,541

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.7

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.21%

Black or African American 7.31%

Hispanic or Latino 10.39%

Unknown 4.96%

White 65.85%

Gender

female 38.37%

male 61.63%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

4.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a history instructor

Explore history instructor education requirements

Most common history instructor degrees

Bachelor's

59.1 %

Master's

29.9 %

Doctorate

5.8 %

Start to develop specific history instructor skills

Skills	Percentages
Classroom Management	12.65%
Syllabus	10.43%
Student Learning	9.15%
World History	7.61%
Academic Support	6.84%

Research history instructor duties and responsibilities

Develop lesson plans, teach mechanics and creativity in writing, teach reading, math and manage resource room as needed.
Create syllabus, tests, and writing assignments.
Instruct the college students in macro and micro economics.
Create online economics course (essentials) using the blackboard and the desire to learn (D2L) systems.

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