Historian Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Historian roles at U.S. universities, museums, and federal agencies regularly qualify as H-1B visa 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.

Find Historian Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs29+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type97% On-site
Top LocationNew York, NY
Most JobsWSP

Showing 5 of 29+ Historian jobs

Monmouth University
Adjunct, Public Historian
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Monmouth University
Added 4d ago
Adjunct, Public Historian
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, New Jersey
Teaching & Instruction
K-12 Teaching
Higher Education
On-Site
Master's
501-1,000

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WSP
Project Architectural Historian
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WSP
Added 1w ago
Project Architectural Historian
WSP
Washington, Washington DC
Project & Program Management
Consulting & Professional Services
Project Management
$99k - $165k/yr
On-Site
Master's

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SWCA Environmental Consultants
Associate Project Architectural Historian
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SWCA Environmental Consultants
Added 2w ago
Associate Project Architectural Historian
SWCA Environmental Consultants
Portland, Oregon
$31 - $40/hr
Hybrid
Master's
1,001-5,000

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The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Historian
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The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Added 2w ago
Historian
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Ford Island, Hawaii
$78k - $85k/yr
On-Site
None
1,001-5,000

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Connecticut Children's
Medication Historian
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Connecticut Children's
Added 1mo ago
Medication Historian
Connecticut Children's
Hartford, Connecticut
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
On-Site
High School

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Tips 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.

Frequently 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.