Because so many people in genealogy are hobbyists, and others work only part time, it is difficult to estimate annual salaries. Payscale.com reported 2019 median earnings of $42,000 for full-time genealogists. Salaries ranged from less than $25,000 to $99,000 or more.
Most genealogists, whether self-employed or working for a genealogy service company, charge by the hour. According to the Association of Professional Genealogists, self-employed genealogists charge between $15 and $100 an hour, with the average between $25 and $60. Some experienced genealogists specialize in difficult research and earn higher fees. For a larger project, like researching and writing an entire family history, a genealogist may charge a single fee, and may request it up front. Genealogists also charge for photocopies, postage, telephone calls, and other expenses incurred during research.
Because the work is not steady or guaranteed, genealogists usually develop ways to supplement their income. As noted earlier, they might write articles for magazines and journals or write a book on how to trace family history. Qualified genealogists might teach courses in family history at community colleges, public libraries, or other adult education venues.
- Anthropologists
- Archaeologists
- Conservators and Conservation Technicians
- Demographers
- Economists
- Education Directors and Museum Teachers
- Ethnoscientists
- Futurists
- Genealogical Researchers
- Geographers
- Historians
- Historic Preservationists
- Lexicographers
- Linguists
- Medical Ethicists
- Political Scientists
- Sociologists
- Statisticians