Ancient History Career: Job Profiles, Placements, Salary, Top Recruiters, Abroad

Updated on May 20, 2025 05:58 IST

As an Ancient History fresher, you may develop a lot of skills by studying ancient history that are useful in several different careers. You can help with research, analytical and critical thinking abilities, it can also be beneficial for other professional routes. 

At the entry-level, you can work as Research Assistants, Museum Guide, Archaeological Assistants, or Teaching Assistants and earn an average salary ranging from INR 4.5 to 5.6 lakh. The colleges that offer the highest placement packages are Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, etc. You can get hired in both the public and private sectors. You can find jobs in Research Institutes, Museums, Colleges, Libraries, etc.

Top Careers in Ancient History

You can work in several areas after completing your course. You can choose the areas of employment according to your interest and field in which you want to pursue long-term careers. You can work in either of the job profiles -

Job Profile Description Average CTC
Research Assistant/Intern (History) Assist in historical research projects INR 2.5 - 4 LPA
Museum Guide/Assistant Provide guided tours, share historical knowledge INR 2.5 - 3 LPA
Teaching Assistant (High School/College) Assist in teaching history courses INR 3.5 - 5 LPA
Archaeological Assistant Support archaeological excavations INR 4- 5.5 LPA
Historian/Archaeologist Conduct research on historical topics INR 3 - 4.5 LPA
Curator/Conservator (Museum) Manage and preserve museum artifacts INR 3.5 - 6.2 LPA
High School/College History Teacher Educate students on historical subjects INR 5.3 - 8.1 LPA
Journalist/Editor (History) Cover historical events or write historical pieces INR 6.1- 8.4 LPA
Lead Historian/Chief Archaeologist Oversee and lead historical or archaeological projects INR 8.5 - 12 LPA
Museum Director/Curator Head of museum, responsible for overall management INR 6.2-10 LPA
Professor/Head of History Department Teach at a university, head the history department INR 10.5-12 LPA

Note - The salary data has been taken from external links.

Specialisation Wise Salary for Ancient History Graduates in India

Ancient history specialisations can include a lot of topics, each requiring a unique set of abilities and applications. This table lists some ancient history specialisations. You can also click to read more about History courses.

Specialization Entry-Level Salary (INR) Range Mid-Level Salary (INR) Range Senior-Level Salary (INR) Range
Classical Studies INR 3.6 LPA-INR 5.2 LPA INR 6.1 LPA-INR 10 LPA INR 12 LPA-INR 20 LPA
Archaeology INR 3.5 LPA-INR 6 LPA INR 6.4 LPA-INR 12 LPA INR 10 LPA-INR 18 LPA
Egyptology INR 2.5 LPA-INR 5.6 LPA INR 6.5 LPA-INR 9.4 LPA INR 10 LPA-INR 15.4 LPA
Ancient Art and Architecture INR 3.1 LPA-INR 5.5 LPA INR 6.2 LPA-INR 8.4 LPA INR 12.5 LPA-INR 18.1 LPA
Historical Linguistics INR 3.8 LPA-INR 5.4 LPA INR 5.5 LPA-INR 10 LPA INR 12.2 LPA-INR 18.4 LPA
Numismatics INR 3.3 LPA-INR 5 LPA INR 5.6 LPA-INR 10.2 LPA INR 12.3 LPA-INR 20.1 LPA
Ancient Philosophy INR 2.9 LPA-INR 5.1 LPA INR 6.1 LPA-INR 9.1 LPA INR 10.1 LPA-INR 20 LPA

Note - The salary data has been taken from external sites.

Top Recruiters for Ancient History Students

While archaeological consulting organisations hire experts for excavation projects, museums and other cultural institutions provide curators and conservators with chances to manage and conserve historical artifacts. You can find some of the best employment areas for Ancient History freshers here -

Top Employment Areas for Ancient History Graduates
Media Houses Museums
Schools and Colleges Libraries
Entertainment Industry NGOs

The various recruiters based on specialisations hire History graduates through placement drives conducted in top colleges. The recruiters based on specialisation pursued in History include the following -

Museum Recruiters
National Museum, New Delhi Indian Museum Kolkata National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata -----
Schools/Colleges Recruiters
Chandigarh University Amity University Lucknow University
XLRI Parul University Indian Institute of Management
Media Houses Recruiters
NDTV Aaj Tak Dainik Jagran
Zee News The Times of India Hindustan Times
NGOs Recruiters
CRY Goonj Help Age
Butterfly Aakhiri Ummeed Aakar

Top Ancient History College for Placements

Several Ancient History colleges are popular for their placement opportunities and the high range of domestic and international packages. These colleges not only provide placement opportunities but also ensure good placements for the students.

Some of the top colleges and their placement report are given in the table below -

Name of College Average Salary (in INR) in 2023

JNU

INR 5.8 LPA

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

INR 6.1 LPA

St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

INR 6.2 LPA

University of Mysore

INR 4.6 LPA

Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gorakhpur University

INR 5.2 LPA

Banaras Hindu University

INR 5.5 LPA

University of Madras

INR 6.3 LPA

Andhra University

INR 5.3 LPA

Patna University

INR 4.8 LPA

Ancient History Career FAQs

Q. Why is Ancient History important?

A. The study of ancient history is crucial because it sheds light on the beginnings and development of human civilization, offers insights from past triumphs and tragedies, shapes contemporary political and legal structures, establishes a basis for cultural identity, and highlights scientific and technological advancements through archaeological finds.

It facilitates comprehension of the interconnectedness of the world, exposes the dynamics of cultural change, provides a rich source of inspiration for literature and art, and—above all—preserves the historical memory necessary to appreciate the complexity of the human experience and to guide decisions made today and in the future. Click to see Archaeology Course.

Q. What is ancient Indian history?

A. Ancient Indian history covers the era between the end of the Gupta Empire in the sixth century CE and the earliest recorded human settlements on the Indian subcontinent.

The Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedic period, the Maurya Empire, Gupta Empire and various regional kingdoms are all a part of it. You'll find about Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism as well.

Q. What are the best books about ancient history?

A. Some of the best books on Ancient History are -

  • India: A History written by John Keay
  • The Wonder That Was India by A.L. Basham
  • Ancient India penned by RC Majumdar
  • The Discovery of India written by Jawaharlal Nehru

Q. What do we learn in ancient history?

A. The following are important takeaways that come with studying ancient history -

  • Origins of Human Evolution
  • Traditions and Cultural Diversity
  • Institutions and Social Structures
  • Political Aspects

Q. How to study ancient history?

A. Effective ancient history research involves selecting a narrow focus area, making use of a variety of primary and secondary sources, reading credible books and journals, thinking about taking online courses, visiting historical sites and museums, participating in study groups and forums, watching documentaries, and keeping up with new findings.

The students should keep their notes well-organized, and strike a balance between breadth and depth of knowledge. They should also evaluate historical sources critically, and exercise patience and perseverance—after all, studying ancient history is a lifetime of learning. Students can also see the table below to learn related courses.

Subjects Related to History

Anthropology

Archaeology

Communication Studies

Geography

Languages

Linguistics

Literature

Philosophy

Political Science

Psychology

Sociology

Social Work

Q. What are the employment areas after Ancient History?

A. Some of the main areas of employment for Ancient History graduates are -

  • Academics and Researchers
  • Museums & Archives
  • Publishing & Journalism
  • Tourism
  • Education
  • Government & Public Service
  • Libraries
  • Archeological Sites

Q. What is the difference between ancient history and modern history?

A. The study of ancient history, which covers the period from roughly 3500 BCE to 476 CE, emphasizes the creation and advancement of early civilizations, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, emphasizing their achievements in politics, technology, and culture.

Modern history, on the other hand, spans the eras of great political transformation, the Industrial transformation, the Age of Discovery, and the Renaissance, starting in the 15th century and ending in the present. It examines international relations, the emergence of contemporary political structures, and notable technological developments, reflecting the deep social shifts that have molded the modern world.

Table of contents
  • Popular Ancient History Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Ancient History Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Ancient History UG Courses
  • Popular Ancient History PG Courses

Popular Ancient History Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Ancient History Colleges in India. Learn more about these Ancient History colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
72.5 K
6.23 LPA

#89 NIRF

1 Course
15.8 K
4.8 LPA

#116 NIRF

13 Courses
25.16 K - 57.2 K
8 - 9 LPA
1 Course
432
9.5 LPA
1 Course
22.59 K
2.8 LPA
1 Course

Popular Private Ancient History Colleges in India

1 Course
72.5 K
6.23 LPA

#89 NIRF

1 Course
15.8 K
4.8 LPA

#116 NIRF

13 Courses
25.16 K - 57.2 K
8 - 9 LPA
1 Course
432
9.5 LPA
1 Course
22.59 K
2.8 LPA
1 Course

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Ancient History. Students interested in pursuing a career on Ancient History, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Jun '26

CPGET 2026 Notification

TENTATIVE

Jun '26

CPGET 2026 Registration

TENTATIVE

Mar '26

CUET 2026 Application Process

TENTATIVE

May '26 - Jun '26

CUET 2026 Exam

TENTATIVE

Nov '25

SAT Registration Deadline for November Test

TENTATIVE

Mar '26

PUBDET 2026 Applications

TENTATIVE

To Be Notified:

PUBDET 2026 2nd Round Seat Allotment

Popular Ancient History UG Courses

Following are the most popular Ancient History UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Ancient History PG Courses

Following are the most popular Ancient History PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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