Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates earn $49,728 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,215 and $62,359. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
Historic Preservation and Conservation is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Graduates typically earn around $49,728 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. The program is available at 80 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 423 students complete this program each year, most earning a master's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$35,326
Median Earnings · 4yr
$49,728
Colleges Offering
80
Graduates / Year
423
Avg Net Price / yr
$20,548
How Much Do Historic Preservation and Conservation Graduates Earn?
Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates earn $49,728 four years out, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,215 and $62,359. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $35,326 climbs to $49,728 by year four.
$35,326
1 Year After Graduation
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$49,728
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$51,229
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a moderate earnings spread across Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$35,21525th pct.
$49,728Median
$62,35975th pct.
Understanding the Cost vs. Return
At median 4-year earnings of $49,728 and an estimated $82,192 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 4.2 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 11 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 423 students who complete Historic Preservation and Conservation programs each year, the majority (55%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
26%55%
Master's55%
Bachelor's26%
Post-Bacc Cert.12%
What Can You Do With a Historic Preservation and Conservation Degree?
Historic Preservation and Conservation connects to 3 occupations in the job market. Facilities Managers leads at $106,660/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.
Monitor the facility to ensure that it remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
Oversee the maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment, and electrical and mechanical systems.
Oversee construction and renovation projects to improve efficiency and to ensure that facilities meet environmental, health, and security standards, and comply with government regulations.
Teach courses pertaining to the culture and development of an area, an ethnic group, or any other group, such as Latin American studies, women's studies, or urban affairs. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
Top Colleges for Historic Preservation and Conservation
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Historic Preservation and Conservation students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Historic Preservation and Conservation graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Historic Preservation and Conservation is one of 39 specializations within Interdisciplinary Studies. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Historic Preservation and Conservation program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
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Historic Preservation and Conservation Degree: Pros & Cons
Historic Preservation and Conservation carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $35,326 at graduation to $49,728 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 15,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $49,728 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($35,215) and 75th ($62,359) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Historic Preservation and Conservation Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates earn?
Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates earn a national median of $49,728 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,215 and $62,359. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Historic Preservation and Conservation degree?
One year after graduation, Historic Preservation and Conservation degree holders earn a median of $35,326. That climbs to $49,728 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Historic Preservation and Conservation degree?
Historic Preservation and Conservation degree holders pursue careers including Facilities Managers, which pays a median of $106,660/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Historic Preservation and Conservation program take?
While a bachelor's in this area takes four years, many Historic Preservation and Conservation students continue to a master's degree, adding one to two years. Some schools offer accelerated 5-year combined programs.
How many colleges offer Historic Preservation and Conservation?
80 colleges and universities in the United States offer Historic Preservation and Conservation programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Historic Preservation and Conservation degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $49,728 and an average net price of roughly $20,548/yr, a Historic Preservation and Conservation degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Historic Preservation and Conservation and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Historic Preservation and Conservation is a focused concentration within the broader Interdisciplinary Studies field. The Interdisciplinary Studies major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Historic Preservation and Conservation-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates?
Employers hiring Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the job outlook for Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates?
The job outlook for Historic Preservation and Conservation graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +3.3% job growth over the next 10 years. Facilities Managers is among the strongest-growth roles at +3.8%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Other programs in Interdisciplinary Studies. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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