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What Can You Do With a Military History Degree? Jobs
Key takeaway: Military history (CIP 54.0108) is a specialized [history](/programs/history) degree: campaigns, institutions, technology, and the political context of armed force. American Public University and Southern New Hampshire University sell it online at bachelor's and master's level. The CIP is tiny. In IPEDS 2024 only a handful of institutions reported bachelor's-or-higher completions in this exact code, so most 'military history' programs are a concentration inside a history major rather than a standalone CIP. This is not officer commissioning, not ROTC, and not a shortcut into an intelligence agency. Commissioning has its own pipelines. Analysis jobs want the clearance process described on the [intelligence studies](/programs/intelligence-studies) page.
Historian is a small occupation. Most graduates teach, write, work in museums and archives, or use the degree as a writing-and-research credential for government and defense analysis jobs that do not require this CIP.
Jobs you can get with a military history degree
| Occupation | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Historians | $76,750 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,820 |
| Curators | $63,420 |
| Archivists | $64,550 |
View the data behind this chart
| Occupation | Avg. annual openings |
|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | 13,500/yr |
| Writers and Authors | 13,400/yr |
| Editors | 9,800/yr |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | 1,900/yr |
| Curators | 1,800/yr |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,700/yr |
| Archivists | 1,100/yr |
| Historians | 300/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians. Median means half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less.
Historians. The national median annual wage was $76,750, with the 10th percentile at $42,730 and the 90th at $131,810 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 3,400 in 2024, projected to grow 2.2 percent through 2034, with 300 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). See how to become a military historian. History Teachers, Postsecondary. The national median annual wage was $83,820, with the 10th percentile at $48,410 and the 90th at $162,160 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 24,600 in 2024, projected to grow -0.2 percent through 2034, with 1,700 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Curators. The national median annual wage was $63,420, with the 10th percentile at $40,470 and the 90th at $107,140 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 15,100 in 2024, projected to grow 7.0 percent through 2034, with 1,800 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Archivists. The national median annual wage was $64,550, with the 10th percentile at $39,970 and the 90th at $110,550 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 9,300 in 2024, projected to grow 3.8 percent through 2034, with 1,100 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034).
The jobs this degree does not get you
This is not officer commissioning, not ROTC, and not a shortcut into an intelligence agency. Commissioning has its own pipelines. Analysis jobs want the clearance process described on the intelligence studies page.
What the degree level changes
The online bachelor’s in military history is the entry credential in this CIP. The online master’s in military history is the advancement or specialization credential. Compare history, intelligence studies, political science before you enroll if those titles match the job you actually want.
Common questions
What jobs can you get with a military history degree?
Common occupations include historians, history teachers, postsecondary, curators, archivists.
How much do military history majors make?
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians include $76,750 for historians, $83,820 for history teachers, postsecondary, $63,420 for curators, $64,550 for archivists. Individual outcomes vary.
Data verified: September 7, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.