Historyat University of California-San Diego
Graduates earn $21,713/yr in their first year — about 33.0% below the national History average. Base-case 10-year earnings $671K; scenarios range from $601K to $691K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC San Diego
Your UCSD History degree, while fostering excellent critical thinking and research skills at a top public university, places you in a unique regional market. San Diego's economy heavily favors biotech, defense, and technology, fields where a direct history major might not find as many high-paying, entry-level roles compared to more specialized degrees. The university's strong STEM focus also means less emphasis on dedicated career pipelines for humanities graduates compared to some liberal arts institutions. While advanced roles like management or academia eventually offer strong salaries, these often require further education or significant experience beyond five years post-graduation, impacting initial earning potential. To enhance your career trajectory, actively seek internships that translate your analytical skills into practical business, non-profit, or government experience, and consider complementing your studies with minors or certifications in areas like data analysis or project management to better align with local employer needs.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC San Diego's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering History
How UC San Diego stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC San Diego
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC San Diego, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in History offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare History trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about History at UC San Diego
How does University of California-San Diego's History program score?
This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for History. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is History to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' History careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are History earnings lower at University of California-San Diego?
Lower starting pay at University of California-San Diego may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.