Historian Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Historian jobs in the U.S. qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa, making employer sponsorship achievable for candidates with a relevant graduate degree. Museums, universities, federal agencies, and archives all file LCAs for historians. No lottery alternatives like the TN visa or E-3 visa apply to this role, so targeting H-1B-filing employers is your clearest path. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
Find Historian JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 23+ Historian jobs
See all Historian Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Historian roles.
Get Access To All JobsOverview:
As an Architectural Historian for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) in our Pittsburgh, PA office, you will investigate, evaluate, and document historic buildings, structures, and other above-ground cultural resources for a variety of infrastructure, energy, and development projects. You will support clients as they navigate historic preservation requirements, including compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Your work will include conducting historic architectural surveys, researching and documenting historic properties, evaluating resources for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places, and assessing potential project effects on historic resources. You will apply your knowledge of architectural history, historic preservation, and cultural resource management to support projects from initial planning and field investigations through regulatory review and project completion. You will work closely with clients, government agencies, and CEC’s multidisciplinary teams to support cultural resource projects throughout the northeast, mid-Atlantic, and other regions. As an Assistant Project Manager, you will have opportunities to coordinate project tasks, support project planning and execution, and develop project management skills through hands-on experience, mentorship, and collaboration with experienced cultural resource professionals across the company. You will also have the opportunity to provide meaningful contributions to the continued growth of CEC's Cultural Resources Practice.
At CEC, every team member is personally invested in serving our clients with integrity, delivering results that matter, and growing meaningful careers. As employee-owners, we’re accountable not just for our work, but for creating an environment that supports and challenges one another. Our people are our priority — and that’s what drives us to dig deeper, collaborate smarter, and build lasting relationships inside and outside of our company. Our Pittsburgh office, located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, is home to a passionate and growing team of professionals.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct historic architectural surveys, investigations, and archival research for historic buildings, structures, districts, and other above-ground cultural resources.
- Evaluate historic resources for National Register of Historic Places eligibility and support Section 106 compliance, including assessing Areas of Potential Effects and potential project impacts on historic properties.
- Prepare historic architectural survey reports, historic property evaluations, effects assessments, and other technical documentation supporting project and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate with clients, State Historic Preservation Offices, regulatory agencies, and multidisciplinary project teams to support successful project delivery.
- Assist with project planning, task management, scheduling, budgeting, and proposal development.
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Sign-on bonus available for eligible candidates
- 100% employee-owned firm with access to ownership opportunities beginning within your first year
- Competitive compensation with multiple income streams, including performance bonuses and employee ownership
- 55% of company profits distributed back to employees through bonuses
- Flexible and hybrid work schedule options
- Diverse portfolio of projects
- Comprehensive benefits beginning on day one, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) with company match beginning the first of the month following your start date
- Collaborative environment that supports mentorship, technical development, leadership growth, and career advancement
- Access to on-site amenities including a fitness center, café, recreation areas, and employee events
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, History, or a closely related field
- Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Architectural History
- Experience conducting historic architectural surveys, evaluating above-ground cultural resources, and preparing technical documentation
- Knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Register of Historic Places evaluation criteria and historic preservation regulations.
- Ability to identify and evaluate common historic architectural styles, building types, construction methods, and potential project effects on historic properties.
- Field experience conducting architectural history or cultural resource investigations preferred.
About us:
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
Overview:
As an Architectural Historian for Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC) in our Pittsburgh, PA office, you will investigate, evaluate, and document historic buildings, structures, and other above-ground cultural resources for a variety of infrastructure, energy, and development projects. You will support clients as they navigate historic preservation requirements, including compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Your work will include conducting historic architectural surveys, researching and documenting historic properties, evaluating resources for eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places, and assessing potential project effects on historic resources. You will apply your knowledge of architectural history, historic preservation, and cultural resource management to support projects from initial planning and field investigations through regulatory review and project completion. You will work closely with clients, government agencies, and CEC’s multidisciplinary teams to support cultural resource projects throughout the northeast, mid-Atlantic, and other regions. As an Assistant Project Manager, you will have opportunities to coordinate project tasks, support project planning and execution, and develop project management skills through hands-on experience, mentorship, and collaboration with experienced cultural resource professionals across the company. You will also have the opportunity to provide meaningful contributions to the continued growth of CEC's Cultural Resources Practice.
At CEC, every team member is personally invested in serving our clients with integrity, delivering results that matter, and growing meaningful careers. As employee-owners, we’re accountable not just for our work, but for creating an environment that supports and challenges one another. Our people are our priority — and that’s what drives us to dig deeper, collaborate smarter, and build lasting relationships inside and outside of our company. Our Pittsburgh office, located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, is home to a passionate and growing team of professionals.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct historic architectural surveys, investigations, and archival research for historic buildings, structures, districts, and other above-ground cultural resources.
- Evaluate historic resources for National Register of Historic Places eligibility and support Section 106 compliance, including assessing Areas of Potential Effects and potential project impacts on historic properties.
- Prepare historic architectural survey reports, historic property evaluations, effects assessments, and other technical documentation supporting project and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinate with clients, State Historic Preservation Offices, regulatory agencies, and multidisciplinary project teams to support successful project delivery.
- Assist with project planning, task management, scheduling, budgeting, and proposal development.
WHAT WE OFFER:
- Sign-on bonus available for eligible candidates
- 100% employee-owned firm with access to ownership opportunities beginning within your first year
- Competitive compensation with multiple income streams, including performance bonuses and employee ownership
- 55% of company profits distributed back to employees through bonuses
- Flexible and hybrid work schedule options
- Diverse portfolio of projects
- Comprehensive benefits beginning on day one, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) with company match beginning the first of the month following your start date
- Collaborative environment that supports mentorship, technical development, leadership growth, and career advancement
- Access to on-site amenities including a fitness center, café, recreation areas, and employee events
QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in Architectural History, Historic Preservation, History, or a closely related field
- Meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for Architectural History
- Experience conducting historic architectural surveys, evaluating above-ground cultural resources, and preparing technical documentation
- Knowledge of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Register of Historic Places evaluation criteria and historic preservation regulations.
- Ability to identify and evaluate common historic architectural styles, building types, construction methods, and potential project effects on historic properties.
- Field experience conducting architectural history or cultural resource investigations preferred.
About us:
We have experts! CEC is consistently ranked as a Top 500 Design Firm and Top 200 Environmental Firm by Engineering News-Record. We are looking for people who enjoy using their education and experience to solve difficult technical problems and work on interesting projects. You can accomplish this while working with a team of professionals who are equally motivated to provide high levels of service to our clients and to teach you along the way.
We have support! We have a variety of Employee Resource Groups, including CEC Community – focused on giving back to the communities in which we work; CEC Ignite – focused on helping professionals early in their careers to develop their pathway; CEC iDEA – focused on inclusion, diversity, equality, and acceptance; and CEC Women – focused on creating internal and external opportunities for women to network and leverage professional experience!
We care about our people! People and Culture are two of the five elements of our strategic plan. When you care about your people, they will want to grow a career with you – that is our goal. CEC offers you a small-firm work environment with large-firm opportunities. Not only will we help you develop professionally, but we will also provide an opportunity to become an owner of the firm and share in its success.
CEC offers a matching 401(k); profit sharing; a performance bonus; company stock; medical, dental, and vision insurance; short and long-term disability; tuition assistance; professional development; and work-life balance.
CEC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis or characteristic prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law.
THIRD PARTY RECRUITERS
If CEC has not expressly requested recruiting services or contractually engaged with you for recruiting services on a specific position, any resumes or candidate profiles sent to CEC shall be considered unsolicited. Therefore, any such submissions will be considered property of CEC, with no associated fees due to your firm.
See all Historian Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Historian roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Historian Jobs
Frame your degree as directly related
H-1B sponsorship for historians requires your degree field to directly match the role. A history degree supports a historian position, but a general humanities degree may prompt an RFE from USCIS. Document the specific coursework that maps to your job duties.
Target federal agencies and national archives
Federal agencies like the National Archives and Records Administration and the Smithsonian Institution regularly sponsor historians through H-1B petitions. Cap-exempt status does not apply here, so confirm the employer files cap-subject petitions before investing in applications.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for historians in your work location. Run the OFLC Wage Search using the correct area of intended employment before you receive an offer to understand your floor.
Find sponsors using Migrate Mate's verified filing data
Search Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified LCA filing history for historian roles. This surfaces institutions actively sponsoring the position, so you're not cold-applying to employers who have never filed for this occupation before.
Document foreign archival or research experience carefully
If your credentials include degrees or research appointments from non-U.S. institutions, get a credential evaluation from a NACES-member service. USCIS reviews foreign academic credentials closely for specialty occupation petitions in fields like history.
Account for PERM timing when negotiating start dates
If your employer plans to sponsor a green card after your H-1B is approved, PERM labor certification can take 12 to 18 months through DOL. Build that timeline into your employment discussions so your H-1B extensions align with the EB-2 or EB-3 process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a historian role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. USCIS recognizes historian as a specialty occupation because it normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in history or a closely related field. Your employer will need to demonstrate that the specific position requires that degree. Roles at universities, government agencies, museums, and research institutions have the strongest cases because the degree-to-duty connection is well established.
Which visa types can sponsor a historian working in the United States?
The H-1B is the primary work visa for historians. The TN visa does not cover historians under the USMCA profession list, and the E-3 is limited to Australian nationals in specialty occupations that mirror H-1B requirements, but historian is not a commonly approved E-3 category. If you hold an advanced degree, EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship through PERM is also a viable long-term path your employer can pursue alongside an H-1B.
What degree level does USCIS expect for a historian H-1B petition?
USCIS expects at least a bachelor's degree in history or a directly related discipline such as archival studies, public history, or historical preservation. For research or curatorial roles, employers often require a master's or PhD, which strengthens the specialty occupation argument. A general liberal arts degree without a history concentration is unlikely to satisfy USCIS unless accompanied by substantial progressive experience in the field.
How do I find employers who sponsor historians for visa?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for historian roles, so you can browse institutions that have actively filed for this occupation rather than guessing at employer willingness. Museums, federal agencies, university history departments, and government contractors are the most consistent sponsors.
Can a historian on OPT or STEM OPT extend their work authorization while waiting for H-1B selection?
History is not classified as a STEM-designated degree program under the Department of Homeland Security's CIP code list, so STEM OPT extension is not available for most history graduates. Standard 12-month OPT applies. If you aren't selected in the H-1B annual cap process during your OPT period, you'll need to explore cap-exempt employer options, change status, or depart the U.S. until a future registration cycle.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Historian jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.