Historian Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Historian roles at U.S. universities, museums, and federal agencies regularly qualify as H-1B specialty occupations. Most positions require a master's or doctorate, and employers in the public sector often sponsor through cap-exempt pathways that bypass the annual lottery. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY:
SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Project Architectural Historian to support projects in Northern/Central California. We are expanding our Cultural Resources team and are looking for a dynamic individual who is following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. This position will perform a variety of office and field tasks including historic research, completion of historic resource evaluations/assessments, property documentation, and working with and developing new clients.
This is a regular (with benefits), full-time position, and it offers the flexibility of a "hybrid" work environment, with a few days in the office. The position is based in Sacramento, CA but those near our Half Moon Bay or San Luis Obispo offices, or highly-qualified distributed (= remote) employees based in California or the Reno, NV area will be seriously considered.
Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.
WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH:
- Independently manage stand-alone architectural history and historic preservation projects and assist other project managers in the execution of architectural history, historic preservation, preservation planning, and components of multi-disciplinary projects
- Plan and complete historic resource surveys of residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and institutional properties using tablet computers, digital photography, and other survey methodologies
- Preparation of defensible compliance documentation in support of CEQA, NEPA, and NHPA/Section 106 review
- Documenting survey results in reports and recording historic resources on California DPR 523 forms
- Conduct archival research, focusing on primary and secondary sources, and write historic narratives and context statements
- Evaluate resources under National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria
- Prepare defensible compliance documentation in support of NHPA/Section 106 review
- Carry out project-level review for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, in support of NHPA and local permitting projects
- Assist local governments with creating and revising planning regulations, including historic preservation ordinances
- Develop and manage project budgets and staff
- Contribute to proposal and marketing efforts
- Maintain SWCA’s high standard of technical ethics and quality assurance and ensure that project deliverables meet agency and industry standards, and be motivated to identify and resolve problems in creative ways
- Manage quality and completeness of data collection, analysis, and report completion from start to finish
- Perform mid-level technical peer review of documents
- Work closely with the Cultural Resources Director and/or Cultural Resource Team Lead(s), as well as project managers, directors, and principal investigators throughout the company to promote SWCA’s business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values
- Work with clients to identify project needs and make recommendations for management of historic resources
- Collaborate with SWCA’s Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians throughout the company
- Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS:
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Heritage Conservation, History, Architectural History, or a closely related field
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in cultural resources management as an architectural historian
- Prior experience managing projects (schedules, budgets, RFP's)
- A working knowledge of federal and California cultural resources and historic preservation laws and practices, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
- Demonstrated knowledge of the history/architectural history in California
Preferred Qualifications:
- Seven (7) years of experience in cultural resources management
- Strong research, writing, and communication skills
- Experience with application of The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (36 CFR Part 67) and Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record documentation and procedures are preferred
- Experience working on National Register Nominations preferred
WHY WORK AT SWCA:
We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.
Purpose: Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story. SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.
If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.
SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency. An employee in this Sacramento, California based position can expect a salary of: $77,728-$99,420/year. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.
EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.
SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.
LI-AO1
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY:
SWCA Environmental Consultants is looking for a Project Architectural Historian to support projects in Northern/Central California. We are expanding our Cultural Resources team and are looking for a dynamic individual who is following their passion in delivering the highest-quality project work. This position will perform a variety of office and field tasks including historic research, completion of historic resource evaluations/assessments, property documentation, and working with and developing new clients.
This is a regular (with benefits), full-time position, and it offers the flexibility of a "hybrid" work environment, with a few days in the office. The position is based in Sacramento, CA but those near our Half Moon Bay or San Luis Obispo offices, or highly-qualified distributed (= remote) employees based in California or the Reno, NV area will be seriously considered.
Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.
WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH:
- Independently manage stand-alone architectural history and historic preservation projects and assist other project managers in the execution of architectural history, historic preservation, preservation planning, and components of multi-disciplinary projects
- Plan and complete historic resource surveys of residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and institutional properties using tablet computers, digital photography, and other survey methodologies
- Preparation of defensible compliance documentation in support of CEQA, NEPA, and NHPA/Section 106 review
- Documenting survey results in reports and recording historic resources on California DPR 523 forms
- Conduct archival research, focusing on primary and secondary sources, and write historic narratives and context statements
- Evaluate resources under National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria
- Prepare defensible compliance documentation in support of NHPA/Section 106 review
- Carry out project-level review for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, in support of NHPA and local permitting projects
- Assist local governments with creating and revising planning regulations, including historic preservation ordinances
- Develop and manage project budgets and staff
- Contribute to proposal and marketing efforts
- Maintain SWCA’s high standard of technical ethics and quality assurance and ensure that project deliverables meet agency and industry standards, and be motivated to identify and resolve problems in creative ways
- Manage quality and completeness of data collection, analysis, and report completion from start to finish
- Perform mid-level technical peer review of documents
- Work closely with the Cultural Resources Director and/or Cultural Resource Team Lead(s), as well as project managers, directors, and principal investigators throughout the company to promote SWCA’s business interests in adherence to its mission, vision, and values
- Work with clients to identify project needs and make recommendations for management of historic resources
- Collaborate with SWCA’s Historic Preservation Working Group and architectural historians throughout the company
- Take responsibility for team safety, develop safety plans (when applicable), and anticipate potential safety hazards
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCCESS:
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Heritage Conservation, History, Architectural History, or a closely related field
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in cultural resources management as an architectural historian
- Prior experience managing projects (schedules, budgets, RFP's)
- A working knowledge of federal and California cultural resources and historic preservation laws and practices, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
- Demonstrated knowledge of the history/architectural history in California
Preferred Qualifications:
- Seven (7) years of experience in cultural resources management
- Strong research, writing, and communication skills
- Experience with application of The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (36 CFR Part 67) and Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record documentation and procedures are preferred
- Experience working on National Register Nominations preferred
WHY WORK AT SWCA:
We are #OneSWCA and collaborate across all our offices, programs, and disciplines. We are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack. We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. It is imperative for the successful candidate to fit SWCA's unique culture. Do you appreciate sustainability and environmental awareness? Is giving back to your community a priority? SWCA is a team of scientists, planners, technical experts, and corporate services professionals that are committed to our culture.
Purpose: Our company purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story. SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full spectrum of environmental services. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms.
If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.
SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency. An employee in this Sacramento, California based position can expect a salary of: $77,728-$99,420/year. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive benefits package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.
EOE - women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.
SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.
LI-AO1
See all 5+ Historian jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Historian Jobs
Frame your credentials around specialty occupation
USCIS evaluates whether the position theoretically requires a degree in a specific field, not just history broadly. Tailor your CV to show the direct connection between your graduate specialization and the exact research or curatorial duties in the job description.
Target cap-exempt institutions first
Universities, Smithsonian-affiliated museums, and federal agencies like the National Archives are cap-exempt H-1B sponsors. Pursuing these employers means your petition can be filed any time of year without entering the April lottery.
Verify the prevailing wage tier before negotiations
Look up the SOC code 19-3093 (Historians) in the OFLC Wage Search before your offer conversation. Knowing whether the role is classified at Level I or II tells you what the employer must certify on the Labor Condition Application.
Use Migrate Mate to file once you have an offer
After your employer signs off on the job details, submit your H-1B paperwork through Migrate Mate. The platform handles LCA filing and petition preparation for a flat fee, cutting out the multi-thousand-dollar attorney cost most academic hires assume is unavoidable.
Confirm the employer's willingness to file PERM early
Historian roles at private employers that want to sponsor a green card must complete PERM labor certification. Ask during the offer stage whether the employer has done this before and who covers legal fees, since PERM timelines now run 18 to 24 months at DOL.
Request your I-94 departure record immediately after entry
Your authorized stay as a Historian on H-1B is controlled by your I-94, not your visa stamp. Check your electronic I-94 record through CBP within a week of arrival to confirm the admitted-until date matches your approved petition end date.
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Find Historian JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Historian role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, when the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in history, public history, archival studies, or a closely related field. USCIS looks at whether the degree requirement is both theoretical and specific to the role. Positions that accept any degree or substitute extensive experience without a degree floor are at risk of an RFE on specialty occupation grounds.
Which employers actually sponsor H-1B visas for Historians?
Federal agencies, national museums, research universities, and some state historical societies sponsor Historians most consistently. These institutions are often cap-exempt, meaning they can file H-1B petitions year-round. Private consulting firms that do cultural resource management and environmental review also hire Historians on H-1B, though they are cap-subject and must enter the April lottery. Browse Migrate Mate to filter Historian openings by sponsor type.
Do Historian roles need a PhD, or is a master's degree enough?
A master's degree satisfies the H-1B specialty occupation threshold for most curatorial, research, and archival Historian positions. A PhD is typically required only for tenure-track faculty roles or senior federal positions at GS-12 and above. The O*NET occupation profile for Historians lists a master's as the typical entry-level education, which USCIS weighs in specialty occupation determinations.
Can a Historian on OPT or STEM OPT get H-1B sponsorship?
Historians with a degree in history or related humanities fields are not eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, since history is not on the DHS STEM designated degree list. Standard 12-month OPT applies. You'd need your employer to file an H-1B petition during the April registration window, and cap-gap rules would protect your authorization through September 30 if selected.
How long does H-1B sponsorship take for a Historian at a university?
For cap-exempt university employers, USCIS typically adjudicates standard H-1B petitions in three to five months from filing. Premium processing cuts that to 15 business days. Most universities will not pay for premium processing unless there is a hard start date. Your department administrator and the campus international office usually coordinate the petition timeline, so loop them in as soon as the offer is verbal.
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.
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