Economic History Jobs in Higher Education

Introduction & Overview

Economic History examines how economies have evolved over centuries, blending historical research with economic theory and quantitative methods like cliometrics. Unlike traditional economics focused on contemporary models, it analyzes trade, innovation, labor markets, institutions, and crises to explain why societies prosper or falter. Key examples include the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, Asia’s post-WWII growth, and Thomas Piketty’s work on capital accumulation. The field has seen renewed interest, with Journal of Economic History submissions rising 25% from 2015–2023 amid focus on inequality, globalization, and climate economics.

Students explore courses at UC Berkeley, Yale, University of Chicago, and Oxford. Jobseekers can browse higher-ed-jobs and review faculty on Rate My Professor. AcademicJobs.com connects candidates to Economic History faculty jobs worldwide, including listings in US, UK, and London.

Qualifications & Career Pathways

A PhD in Economic History, Economics, or History is required for tenure-track roles, typically after a bachelor’s and master’s. Top programs include Harvard University, London School of Economics (LSE), University of Oxford, and UC Berkeley. Key skills encompass econometrics, Stata/R/Python proficiency, archival research, academic publishing, and teaching experience. Postdoctoral fellowships at NBER or EHES strengthen publication records.

Typical Timeline to Faculty Positions

Entry-level roles include adjunct lecturer or research assistant via research assistant jobs. Use free resume templates and higher ed career advice. Network at Economic History Association conferences and explore adjunct professor jobs for experience.

Salaries, Benefits & Compensation

In the US, assistant professors earn $110,000–$150,000 annually, with full professors at $180,000–$250,000+ at top institutions (AAUP 2023 data). UK lecturers start at £45,000–£55,000, rising to £80,000+ at LSE. Australia offers research fellows ~$120,000 AUD and professors up to $200,000 AUD. High-cost areas like New York add 20–30% premiums.

Benefits include health insurance, TIAA-CREF matching up to 10%, tuition remission, and housing subsidies. Negotiation can secure startup funds ($20,000–$50,000) and reduced loads. Postdoc stipends range $55,000–$70,000. Check professor salaries for benchmarks and Rate My Professor for faculty insights.

Locations & Top/Specializing Institutions

Opportunities vary by region. North America shows high demand with competitive tenure-track roles. Europe emphasizes institutional studies and grants, while Asia-Pacific focuses on development economics. Consider visa rules, cost of living, and local hiring quirks.

Leading Institutions

Review Rate My Professor for faculty insights at these hubs and explore faculty jobs.

Tips for Landing a Job or Enrolling

• ✅ Pursue a PhD at programs like Harvard or LSE, targeting cliometrics and archival skills. Check Rate My Professor for faculty insights.
• ✅ Build 3–5 peer-reviewed publications in journals like the Journal of Economic History before the job market.
• ✅ Gain teaching experience via adjunct professor jobs or TA roles.
• ✅ Network at Economic History Association meetings and submit papers early.
• ✅ Master Stata, R, or Python for quantitative analysis of historical data.
• ✅ Tailor applications using free resume templates and research target institutions via professor salaries.
• ✅ Set alerts on Economic History jobs and postdoc jobs.
• ✅ Explore global opportunities in US, UK, and cities like New York.

Diversity, Inclusion & Professional Networks

Economic History remains male-dominated, with women at 25–30% of faculty and ethnic minorities under 15% in the US. Top institutions require diversity statements, and groups like the AEA Committee on Equity promote mentoring. Diverse teams attract more NSF funding and produce richer analyses of inequality and development.

• 🎓 Join EHA mentoring programs for underrepresented scholars.
• 📈 Highlight D&I contributions in CVs and explore higher ed career advice.
• 🌍 Attend workshops via Economic History Association.

Key networks include:

• Economic History Association (EHA): Publishes Journal of Economic History; join at eh.net/eha.
• Economic History Society (EHS): UK-focused with grants; sign up at ehs.org.uk.
• Cliometric Society: Focuses on quantitative methods; ~$25 via ASSA.
• International Economic History Association (IEHA): Triennial World Congresses; details at ieha.org.
• European Historical Economics Society (EHES): Summer schools and working papers; join at ehes.org.
• Business History Conference (BHC): Dissertation workshops; visit thebhc.org.
• Women in Economic History: Mentorship via EHA.

These groups aid professor salaries insights and faculty jobs preparation. Check Rate My Professor for member perspectives.

Resources & Perspectives

Essential resources include Economic History Association (EHA) for job postings and conferences, EH.net for encyclopedic articles and bibliographies, and Job Openings for Economists (JOE) for listings. Additional tools: Cliometric Society, Chronicity Job Board, and NBER Economic History Program for working papers.

Professionals highlight intellectual freedom and the need for rigorous publications, while students praise courses that turn topics like the Industrial Revolution into compelling narratives (average 4.1/5 on Rate My Professor). Strong prospects exist in academia, Federal Reserve, World Bank, and consulting. Salaries grow 20–30% over a decade, outpacing many humanities fields. Network at EHA events, publish early, and browse higher ed jobs or US/UK listings to advance your path.