What Kinds of Employment Opportunities Are Available in the Historic Preservation Field?
UpdatedPositions exist at all levels of government, nonprofit organizations, and private firms whose main mission or service is historic preservation.
- In the public sector, the National Park Service, state historic preservation offices, and local government preservation divisions are examples of agencies dedicated to the preservation of America's heritage.
- Examples of nonprofit organizations include the National Trust for Historic Preservation, statewide preservation organizations, and hundreds of local preservation groups.
- Private firms whose main service is providing preservation expertise include architects, planners, archaeologists, and historical research firms.
In addition to employers whose main mission is historic preservation, many others hire people with preservation skills. For example, all federal government departments are required to have a preservation officer. Therefore, opportunities exist within such diverse departments as the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services.
Many state agencies involved in housing, community development, transportation, and other services hire people with preservation backgrounds. The same goes for thousands of private firms engaged in design, development, finance, and other aspects of creating and changing the physical environment.
Ready to start looking? The National Trust for Historic Preservation manages the Preservation Career Center where individuals can search job openings, post applicable positions, and learn more about opportunities in the preservation field through profiles on specific positions and professions in preservation.
