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Local Historian Jobs (NOW HIRING)

WSP

Lead Architectural Historian

Reno, NV · On-site

This Opportunity WSP is seeking a Lead Architectural Historian to join our Reno, NV office ... Responsible for SME innovation and administration; ensuring corporate compliance with all Local ...

WSP

Lead Architectural Historian

Reno, NV · On-site

$80 - $120/hr

This Opportunity WSP is seeking a Lead Historian Director to join our Reno, NV office. Provides ... Responsible for SME innovation and administration; ensuring corporate compliance with all Local ...

WSP

Lead Architectural Historian

Reno, NV

This Opportunity WSP is seeking a Lead Architectural Historian to join our Reno, NV office ... Responsible for SME innovation and administration; ensuring corporate compliance with all Local ...

WSP

Part Time Project Architectural Historian

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$79K - $106K/yr

WSP Project Architectural Historians are survey field leaders, detailed researchers, and authors of ... Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic ...

WSP

Part Time Project Architectural Historian

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$79K - $106K/yr

WSP Project Architectural Historians are survey field leaders, detailed researchers, and authors of ... Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic ...

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Local Historian information

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$30.5K

$86.3K

$137.5K

How much do local historian jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for local historian in the United States is $86,335.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,500.00 and $105,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a local historian?

Local historians are individuals who research, document, and interpret the history of a specific geographic area, such as a town, city, or region. They collect and analyze historical records, oral histories, photographs, and artifacts to preserve the unique heritage of their community. Local historians often work with museums, archives, schools, or historical societies, and may write articles or books, create exhibitions, or give public talks. Their work helps foster a sense of identity and continuity by connecting present-day residents with their community's past.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a local historian?

To thrive as a Local Historian, you need a strong background in history, research methods, and archival management, often supported by a degree in history or related fields. Familiarity with digital archives, genealogical databases, and historical mapping tools is commonly required. Exceptional analytical thinking, curiosity, and strong written and verbal communication skills help set outstanding local historians apart. These competencies ensure accurate preservation, interpretation, and sharing of local heritage with both the community and wider audiences.

What are common challenges faced by local historians in verifying historical information?

Local historians often encounter challenges such as limited access to primary sources, incomplete or conflicting records, and oral histories that may lack documentation. Verifying historical information frequently requires cross-referencing multiple sources, consulting archives, and engaging with local communities to piece together accurate narratives. Developing strong research skills and building relationships with libraries, museums, and longtime residents can help local historians overcome these obstacles and enhance the reliability of their work.

What is the difference between Local Historian vs Museum Curator?

AspectLocal HistorianMuseum Curator
Required CredentialsHistory degree, research skillsHistory, museum studies, or related field
Work EnvironmentCommunity events, archives, local sitesMuseums, galleries, exhibit planning
Employer & IndustryHistorical societies, local governmentMuseums, cultural institutions
Search & Comparison IntentHistorical research, local historyExhibit curation, collection management

While both roles involve history and research, a Local Historian focuses on researching and sharing local history within communities, often engaging with the public and archives. A Museum Curator manages collections, designs exhibits, and works within museum settings. The roles overlap in historical knowledge but differ in work environment and specific responsibilities.

More about Local Historian jobs

What cities are hiring for Local Historian jobs?

Cities with the most Local Historian job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Historian jobs?

The most popular types of Historian jobs are:

What states have the most Local Historian jobs?

States with the most job openings for Local Historian jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Local Historian jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Local Historian jobs are:

Local Historian jobs near you
Infographic showing various Local Historian job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 66% Full Time, 29% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,335 per year, or $41.5 per hour.

Lead Architectural Historian

WSP

Reno, NV • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 6 days ago

WSP rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 69 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

18th of 72 rated business consultants

Job description


This Opportunity
WSP is seeking a Lead Architectural Historian to join our Reno, NV office.
Provides leadership within a sector of organization to ensure historian practices, subject matter, technical deliverables, and programs are delivered with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry and company standards. Responsible for SME innovation and administration; ensuring corporate compliance with all Local, State, and Federal environmental, historic preservation, and safety regulations; and providing pragmatic direction to address current and future project challenges in a rapidly-changing and complex business climate.
Your Impact
  • Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the scientific discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector.
  • Support projects across California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon
  • Oversee the appropriate use of quality control standard and procedures for research and data collection, accurate documentation, and the analysis of historical data to determine exact locations of project areas, site impact, and associated physical and historical sensitivities.
  • Lead larger-scale more complex historical preservation and architectural history projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring profitability and satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
  • Responsible for the contribution and management of multi-disciplinary project teams in all phases of the execution and delivery of siting and licensing for assigned business sector production projects, as well as history preservation resource planning, and architectural history projects.
  • Actively foster compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, preservation guidelines, policies, and regulatory requirements.
  • Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area.
  • Support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Historian work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program management).
  • Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
  • Ensure that scientific discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition is developed and continuously improved.
  • Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the scientific discipline's function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations.
  • Schedule scientific discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations to ensure that all reasonable and proper measures are taken to inculcate discipline expertise and innovation into project work.
  • Serve as one of the scientific discipline's lead representatives/liaison to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry-related groups, and various government and community entities.
  • Develop and inform proposal and project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics.
  • Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound scientific and regulatory conclusions to minimize or negate impacts to resources of historic, cultural, and scientific significance.
  • Develop a client base for providing high level historian services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.
  • Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
  • Remain current in latest historian practices, methods, procedures, subject matter, and techniques.
  • Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide "trusted advisor" service and future ready solutions for clients.
  • Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
  • Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Architectural History, History Preservation, or a related field.
  • 7-10 years of relevant post-education experience working as an historian, architectural historian, or similar role.
  • Strong working knowledge of relevant environmental laws, historical/architectural preservation regulations, compliance practices, record-keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
  • Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
  • Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
  • Advanced proficiency with office automation and communication software, technology, and tools used in the corporate environment.
  • Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP's health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
  • Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
  • Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's Degree is preferred.
  • Essential professional licensure/certification.
  • Experience in managing the review of documents and preparation of discipline-specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment is highly desirable.

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About Us
About WSP
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee's career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation - no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.

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