Embarking on a Career in Historic Preservation

Introduction 

Historic preservation jobs offer a unique opportunity to bridge the past and the present, safeguarding our cultural heritage for future generations. As awareness of the importance of preserving historical structures and artifacts grows, so does the demand for skilled professionals in this field. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an architecture buff, or simply someone who appreciates the stories old buildings can tell, a career in historic preservation might be the perfect fit for you. In this article, we’ll explore a range of exciting job opportunities in the historic preservation sector, from hands-on restoration work to policy-making roles, along with their requirements, potential salaries, and benefits.

Remote Historic Preservation Job Opportunities

  1. Historic Building Virtual Tour Guide
    • Job Description: Create and lead engaging virtual tours of historic buildings and sites using video conferencing and 3D modeling software.
    • Requirements: Excellent communication skills, basic knowledge of architectural history, and comfort with technology. No formal qualifications needed.
    • Estimated Salary: $40,000-60,000/year
    • Benefits: Flexible hours, work from home, free access to historical sites
  2. Digital Archivist for Historical Documents
    • Job Description: Digitize, catalog, and manage historical documents and photographs for museums, libraries, and private collections.
    • Requirements: Attention to detail, basic computer skills, and interest in history. Training provided.
    • Estimated Salary: $35,000-55,000/year
    • Benefits: Remote work, opportunities for professional development
  3. Historical Research Consultant
    • Job Description: Conduct in-depth research on historical topics for authors, filmmakers, and preservation projects.
    • Requirements: Strong research skills, ability to work independently. Degree in history preferred but not required.
    • Estimated Salary: $50,000-80,000/year
    • Benefits: Project-based work, intellectual stimulation, flexible schedule
  4. Grant Writer for Preservation Projects
    • Job Description: Write compelling grant proposals to secure funding for historic preservation initiatives.
    • Requirements: Excellent writing skills, understanding of preservation principles. Experience in grant writing a plus.
    • Estimated Salary: $45,000-70,000/year
    • Benefits: Performance bonuses, remote work options, meaningful impact on preservation efforts
  5. Historic Site Social Media Manager
    • Job Description: Create engaging content for social media platforms to promote historic sites and preservation awareness.
    • Requirements: Social media savvy, creative mindset, and passion for history. No specific degree required.
    • Estimated Salary: $35,000-55,000/year
    • Benefits: Creative freedom, flexible hours, occasional travel to historic sites
  6. Preservation Policy Analyst
    • Job Description: Research and analyze policies related to historic preservation, providing recommendations to organizations and government agencies.
    • Requirements: Strong analytical skills, familiarity with preservation laws. Background in law, public policy, or history beneficial.
    • Estimated Salary: $60,000-90,000/year
    • Benefits: Influence on preservation policies, professional development opportunities
  7. Virtual Restoration Technician
    • Job Description: Use digital tools to virtually restore historical artifacts and buildings, creating 3D models and visualizations.
    • Requirements: Proficiency in 3D modeling software, eye for detail. Background in art, design, or architecture helpful.
    • Estimated Salary: $40,000-70,000/year
    • Benefits: Cutting-edge technology exposure, creative projects, remote work
  8. Historic Property Listing Specialist
    • Job Description: Create and manage online listings for historic properties, connecting buyers with unique real estate opportunities.
    • Requirements: Real estate knowledge, marketing skills, and appreciation for historic architecture. License may be required depending on duties.
    • Estimated Salary: $50,000-80,000/year (plus commissions)
    • Benefits: Flexible schedule, potential for high earnings through commissions
  9. Preservation Education Content Creator
    • Job Description: Develop online courses, webinars, and educational materials about historic preservation techniques and principles.
    • Requirements: Teaching aptitude, knowledge of preservation practices. Experience in education or content creation a plus.
    • Estimated Salary: $45,000-65,000/year
    • Benefits: Work from home, intellectual stimulation, impact on preservation education
  10. Historical Reenactment Coordinator
    • Job Description: Organize and manage virtual historical reenactments and living history events for museums and educational institutions.
    • Requirements: Event planning skills, historical knowledge, and creativity. No specific degree required.
    • Estimated Salary: $35,000-55,000/year
    • Benefits: Engaging with history enthusiasts, flexible work arrangements, occasional travel opportunities

To apply for any of these jobs or similar positions, click here.

What People Say

“Working as a Digital Archivist for historical documents has been incredibly fulfilling. I love the sense of connection to history I get every day, and the flexible remote work arrangement allows me to balance my job with family responsibilities. The salary is modest, but the benefits, including health insurance and professional development opportunities, make up for it. Sometimes the work can be tedious, especially when dealing with large volumes of documents, but the satisfaction of preserving our heritage makes it worthwhile.” 

Adrian Kellogg, Brevard, North Carolina

“My role as a Historic Site Social Media Manager combines my passion for history with my digital marketing skills. The creative freedom to craft engaging content about fascinating historical sites is incredibly rewarding. While the pay isn’t as high as some corporate social media positions, the flexible hours and occasional travel perks to historic locations more than make up for it. The biggest challenge is staying up-to-date with constantly changing social media trends.” 

Thaddeus Quill, Marfa, Texas

“Being a Preservation Policy Analyst allows me to make a real impact on how we protect our historical heritage. The work is intellectually stimulating, and I appreciate the competitive salary and benefits package. Remote work options provide great flexibility, though sometimes I miss the in-person collaboration with colleagues. The job can be stressful when dealing with conflicting interests in preservation projects, but it’s gratifying to see policies I’ve worked on being implemented.” 

Octavia Steele, Astoria, Oregon

“As a Virtual Restoration Technician, I get to blend my love for history with cutting-edge technology. The opportunity to virtually restore historical artifacts and buildings is fascinating, and the remote work setup allows me to live in a small town while working on projects around the country. The salary is decent, and there’s always something new to learn. However, tight deadlines and the pressure to produce highly accurate restorations can be challenging at times.” 

Caspian Flint, Taos, New Mexico

“My job as a Historical Reenactment Coordinator has been an adventure in bringing history to life virtually. The work is varied and engaging, allowing me to interact with passionate history enthusiasts and educational institutions. While the salary is modest, the flexible work arrangements and occasional travel opportunities are great perks. The main downside is the seasonal nature of the work, which can lead to irregular income. Overall, though, it’s a unique and rewarding career path.” 

Elowen Hawthorne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

“Working in historic preservation from abroad has been an incredible experience. As a Grant Writer for Preservation Projects, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to the conservation of American heritage sites while living overseas. The remote nature of the job offers unparalleled flexibility, and the salary is competitive when factoring in the lower cost of living. The main challenge is coordinating across time zones and missing out on in-person site visits, but the meaningful impact of the work makes it all worthwhile.” 

Zephyr Thorne, Galway, Ireland

More Remote Jobs

  1. Virtual Museum Curator
    • Job Description: Develop and manage online exhibitions for museums, showcasing historical artifacts and stories through digital platforms.
    • Requirements: Knowledge of museum practices, digital curation skills, and ability to create engaging online content.
    • Estimated Salary: $45,000-75,000/year
    • Benefits: Creative freedom, collaborate with museums worldwide, flexible schedule
  2. Historical Fact-Checker for Media
    • Job Description: Verify historical accuracy in films, TV shows, books, and other media productions.
    • Requirements: Strong research skills, attention to detail, and broad historical knowledge. Degree in history preferred.
    • Estimated Salary: $40,000-60,000/year
    • Benefits: Exposure to diverse historical topics, flexible work hours, potential for project-based bonuses
  3. Historic Building Information Modeling (BIM) Specialist
    • Job Description: Create detailed 3D models of historic buildings for preservation, restoration, and educational purposes.
    • Requirements: Proficiency in BIM software, understanding of architectural history, attention to detail.
    • Estimated Salary: $55,000-85,000/year
    • Benefits: Work on diverse architectural projects, continuous learning opportunities, remote work options
  4. Preservation Fundraising Consultant
    • Job Description: Develop and implement fundraising strategies for historic preservation organizations and projects.
    • Requirements: Experience in non-profit fundraising, excellent communication skills, passion for preservation.
    • Estimated Salary: $50,000-80,000/year
    • Benefits: Performance-based bonuses, flexible work arrangements, networking opportunities
  5. Historical Costume Designer for Virtual Productions
    • Job Description: Design historically accurate costumes for virtual reenactments, educational videos, and digital media projects.
    • Requirements: Fashion design skills, knowledge of historical clothing, proficiency in digital design tools.
    • Estimated Salary: $40,000-70,000/year
    • Benefits: Creative projects, work from home, potential for film and TV collaborations
  6. Digital Heritage Outreach Coordinator
    • Job Description: Develop and manage online programs to engage the public with local history and preservation efforts.
    • Requirements: Strong communication skills, experience in community outreach, familiarity with digital platforms.
    • Estimated Salary: $35,000-55,000/year
    • Benefits: Meaningful community impact, flexible work hours, professional development opportunities
  7. Historic Landscape Documentation Specialist
    • Job Description: Use GIS and other digital tools to document and analyze historic landscapes for preservation planning.
    • Requirements: Proficiency in GIS software, understanding of landscape history, attention to detail.
    • Estimated Salary: $45,000-75,000/year
    • Benefits: Work on diverse landscapes, remote work options, continuous learning
  8. Preservation Technology Consultant
    • Job Description: Advise preservation organizations on implementing technology solutions for documentation, analysis, and public engagement.
    • Requirements: Knowledge of preservation practices and emerging technologies, excellent problem-solving skills.
    • Estimated Salary: $60,000-90,000/year
    • Benefits: Stay at the forefront of technology, diverse client projects, potential for travel
  9. Historical Recipe Researcher and Content Creator
    • Job Description: Research, test, and create content around historical recipes and culinary traditions for blogs, social media, and publications.
    • Requirements: Culinary skills, research abilities, content creation experience. No formal qualifications required.
    • Estimated Salary: $35,000-55,000/year
    • Benefits: Creative freedom, flexible schedule, potential for cookbook deals and media appearances
  10. Virtual Historic Site Accessibility Consultant
    • Job Description: Develop strategies to make historic sites and information more accessible to people with disabilities through virtual and digital means.
    • Requirements: Knowledge of accessibility standards, understanding of historic preservation challenges, creative problem-solving skills.
    • Estimated Salary: $50,000-80,000/year
    • Benefits: Meaningful impact on inclusivity, remote work options, professional development opportunities

To apply for any of these jobs or similar positions, click here.

Conclusion 

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As we’ve explored the diverse world of historic preservation jobs, it’s clear that this field offers unique opportunities to blend passion for history with modern career paths. From virtual tour guides to digital archivists, and from preservation policy analysts to historical reenactment coordinators, there’s a role to suit various interests and skill sets within the preservation sector.

The landscape of historic preservation is constantly evolving, with new technologies and approaches emerging to help us better understand, document, and protect our cultural heritage. By staying informed about the latest developments and job opportunities in this field, you can position yourself at the forefront of this exciting and meaningful industry.

To ensure you don’t miss out on future historic preservation job openings, cutting-edge preservation techniques, and insights from industry professionals, we invite you to subscribe to our email list. By opting in, you’ll receive regular updates on:

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Whether you’re just starting your journey in historic preservation or looking to advance your existing career, our newsletter will provide valuable resources to help you navigate this rewarding field. Join our community of passionate preservationists and take the next step in safeguarding our shared history for future generations.

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