by our College Data Analytics TeamHistory of Medicine (CIP 51.3205) is part of the Health Professions field of study, alongside 6 related programs, but no U.S. college reported history of medicine graduates to IPEDS in the latest year. Graduates earn a median $90,296 one year after completing, rising to $98,461 after four years.
Studying History of Medicine involves the study of A Program That Focuses On The Historical Evolution And Socio-Economic Context Of Medical Theories, Education, Practices, And Technologies; And On The History Of Diseases, Therapeutics, Patients, And Healers. Includes Instruction In The Concepts And Methods Of The Historiography Of Medicine; The History Of Science, Medicine, And Technology; And Of Research Methods In The History Of Medicine.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
O*NET rates Speaking the most important skill for jobs related to history of medicine, at 4.5 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are History and Archeology, English Language and Education and Training. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to history of medicine, at 66.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 66.1% |
| Master’s degree | 32.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to History of Medicine, with an average median salary of $64,132; the strongest outlook belongs to History Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include World History Teacher, Russian History Professor, Adjunct History Instructor and Lecturer.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to history of medicine, at 1,269,153.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,269,153 | 10.5% |
| Historians | 66,368 | -1.5% |
History of Medicine graduates earn a median $90,296 one year after completing their program, $98,461 after four years and $100,667 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $90,296 |
| 4 years | $98,461 |
| 5 years | $100,667 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to history of medicine is Historians, with a median salary of $89,780.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Historians | $89,780 |
| History Teachers, Postsecondary | $38,484 |
History of Medicine has 6 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 5,489 degrees a year; the largest are Nursing Education (3,970), Bioethics/Medical Ethics (813) and Medical/Health Humanities (421). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Nursing Education | 3,970 |
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics | 813 |
| Medical/Health Humanities | 421 |
| Health Professions Education | 141 |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, Other | 138 |
| Arts in Medicine/Health | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.