Do you spend a lot of your free time doing family history? Do you watch the clock at work because you can’t wait to get back to your latest photo-organization or tree-building project? Have you wished you could make a living by following your genealogical passion?
There has never been a better time to consider a career in genealogy. Besides traditional career choices, exciting new jobs are available thanks to widespread interest in genealogy, as well as cutting-edge advances in technology.
Taking the First Steps
Choosing a job can be a major life decision. Here are some questions to ask that can help you decide if pursuing a genealogy job is right for you.
- What do you enjoy most about genealogy? Would you still enjoy it if you did it for pay and had to meet deadlines and others’ expectations?
- What are you good at? Enjoying something and being good at it are not necessarily the same thing. You may want to take an aptitude or talent assessment, such as StrengthsFinder or another aptitude test.
- Do you need more education to do what you love? Would genealogy credentials improve your ability to succeed in a genealogy career?
- Do you want to work full-time or part-time? Do you want to work for someone else or be your own boss?
- Can you support yourself and any dependents with the type of genealogy work you want to do? Have others done it? Do you have the discipline and commitment to make it work?
- Are you OK with a variable income stream, or do you need or want a steady income?
- If it will take time to start making a good income—for instance, if you decide to start your own business—do you have the means to support yourself and any dependents until then?
If you decide to pursue a career in genealogy, the suggestions below can help you progress toward your goal.
- Learn about career options (such as those in the next section). Some may surprise you! Make a note of those that appeal to you.
- Talk to people who do the job you’re interested in. Consider doing volunteer work to try out the job.
- Consider joining online groups or societies related to your area of interest.
- Decide what education, training, or credentials would help you qualify for the type of work you want to do. Keep in mind that quality education doesn’t need to be expensive; many free and low-cost resources are available online, including those offered by genealogical societies. Compare alternatives to find the best options for you.
In addition to job-specific requirements, qualifications and skills such as the following are needed for most genealogy jobs:
- Critical thinking
- Communication skills (written and spoken)
- Cooperation and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Organization skills
- Strong commitment to ethics
Career Options in Genealogy
When people think of a genealogy career, researching for clients may be the first thing that comes to mind. While traditional research can be fulfilling, it isn’t the only choice, as you can see from the list of career fields below.
Some careers involve multiple areas of expertise. For example, a tour director needs expertise in specific tour sites as well as good public speaking skills. A legal expert could understand the entertainment industry to consult for a media production.
Take a look at the genealogy-related jobs below. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it may spark ideas for you.
Use the following links to jump to the career fields that you want to explore:
- Research
- Teaching and Speaking
- Content Creation and Distribution
- Entertainment and Media
- Travel and Tourism
- Law
- Science and Medicine
- Technology
Research
Successful genealogical researchers understand basic genealogical standards and resources. They also have strong investigative, analytical, and deductive skills.
- Genealogical researcher. Do genealogy for clients. Build family trees, break through brick walls, and write reports of findings.
- Oral history interviewer. Gather oral histories by conducting interviews and recording memories. Transcribe interviews, and polish transcripts.
- Librarian. Facilitate access to library resources, obtain and curate collections, provide training, and assist library patrons with research.
- Archivist. Obtain and preserve content of genealogical and historical interest.
- Museum curator. Create museum exhibits to showcase historical objects. Write descriptions of objects to help visitors understand their cultural and historical significance.
- Director of a historical or genealogical society or institute. Set goals for the organization, plan and carry out projects and events, and recruit and support members.
Teaching and Speaking
Successful teachers and speakers not only understand their topic thoroughly, but they know how to present it in an engaging and memorable way. They may focus mainly on genealogy topics, or they may integrate genealogy into other areas, such as social studies or science.
- Instructional designer. Design learning experiences to help students gain genealogical skills and competence.
- Teacher (instructor, trainer, professor). Provide learning experiences to help students gain genealogical skills and competence. Teachers may be affiliated with a school, university, or some other institution, such as a historical or genealogical society. Teaching may be done online, in person, or both.
- Speaker (lecturer, presenter). Give presentations on genealogy topics, online or in person. Genealogists can be guest lecturers or forum presenters at genealogy conferences such as RootsTech, genealogy or historical society meetings, or academic settings such as universities or genealogy institutes.
Content Creation and Distribution
Content creators include writers, editors, and translators. They need both genealogical and communication skills.
Successful writers and editors have a basic command of grammar. They are also clear thinkers who know how to organize content into a coherent whole. Writing on genealogy topics often requires research on family lines or other areas. In today’s world, where genealogy and technology go hand in hand, some technical expertise is also helpful.
In addition to the skills listed for writers and editors, translators need fluency in two or more languages.
Distributors include project managers, marketers, and publishers who provide content to their audiences and promote it. These jobs require an understanding of target audiences and the technologies used to reach them.
- Periodical writer. Write articles on family history topics for a blog, magazine, or other periodical, such as NGS Magazine, UGA Crossroads, and Family Tree Magazine.
- Technical writer. Explain genealogical concepts clearly and simply. Write step-by-step procedures for accomplishing family history tasks.
- Long-form writer. Write a substantial work on a specific topic, such as research about a geographic area or a biography of a family member.
- Ghost writer. Write uncredited genealogy articles or books on behalf of a business or another client.
- Editor. Review and polish content for a writer while preserving the writer’s voice. In a genealogy context, an editor could help someone write a personal history and then edit and polish the manuscript.
- Translator. Translate genealogy content; review and revise artificial intelligence (AI) translations.
- Publisher. Manage the production, distribution, and promotion of physical or digital content.
Entertainment and Media
Working in entertainment and media can be fun but taxing. Drive, commitment, and excellent people skills are vital.
- Working on TV shows. Since the TV miniseries Roots debuted in 1977, shows about family history have become increasingly popular. Examples include Who Do You Think You Are, Long Lost Family, Relative Race, Railroad Ties, Finding Your Roots, and Story Trek. You can apply to be a guest on genealogy shows, or you can look for jobs on the writing or production staff. If you have expertise in a certain discipline or location, you could also work as a consultant for a show.
- Creating podcasts. If you have a computer, a camera, and something to say, it’s fairly easy to start a podcast. Income strategies include recruiting sponsors, selling ad space, or selling products and services. Check out this list of great genealogy podcasts.
- Social media influencer. Many genealogists use social media platforms to entertain and educate the public on genealogy topics.
- Home audio, video, and photos expert. Help clients preserve, organize, and share their photos, audio recordings, or video recordings. Use a tool such as Google Earth to create interactive experiences for clients.
Travel and Tourism
General qualifications for a job in travel and tourism include top-notch customer service, an understanding of travel destinations, and knowledge of customs and culture in those places.
- Heritage tour travel planner. Plan and coordinate trips to locations of genealogical interest, such as an ancestor’s country of origin.
- Historical tour guide. Conduct tours of significant areas, such as historical sites and landmarks.
Law
Combining law and genealogy requires expertise in both, usually in a specific area, such as intellectual property or copyright law.
- Attorney. Options include providing support for court cases, consulting, assisting law enforcement, and more.
- Paralegal. Options are similar to those for attorneys, excluding those that must be done by a licensed attorney.
- Heir tracer. Using genealogical and investigative skills, locate legal heirs of an estate who are unknown, missing, or difficult to find.
Science and Medicine
Careers in science or medicine generally require a strong foundation in math and science.
- Genetic genealogist. Combine DNA analysis and traditional research to study family history, build family trees, and locate adoptive children or parents.
- Investigative genetic genealogist or forensic genealogist. Use DNA analysis to help law enforcement solve crimes, including identifying victims and perpetrators. Use DNA analysis to identify unknown victims of natural disasters.
- Repatriation specialists. Help ensure the return of deceased individuals and their personal effects to their country of origin; help return objects of cultural significance.
Technology
Careers in technology generally require expertise in software, hardware, or both.
- Web developer. Design and develop genealogy-related websites. These websites could provide access to historical records, online tree building, collaboration platforms, training, or other resources and tools.
- App developer. Design and develop apps to help people do family history, such as Together and Goldie May.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) tool developer. Design and develop AI-powered tools to help genealogists with research, data analysis, and problem-solving.
- Machine learning engineer. Evaluate data and create models to make genealogical information available to meet a person’s or organization’s needs.
Major Employers in the Genealogy Industry
If you are interested in a career in genealogy, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with genealogy companies. The list below isn't exhaustive, but it does highlight some of the major players.
- FamilySearch
- Ancestry
- AncestryProGenealogists
- MyHeritage
- FindMyPast
- GenealogyBank
- Geneanet
- NewsBank
- WikiTree
- American Ancestors
- FamilyTreeDNA
- LivingDNA
- Mylio
- FOREVER
You may also be able to find a genealogy-related job with another kind of company. For example, museums may hire archivists; government agencies may hire historians.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is a great way to try out a career field and see if you enjoy it. FamilySearch has many opportunities for volunteers to learn how to do genealogy research and make genealogical discoveries possible for others. On Get Involved, you can review historical records that have been transcribed by artificial intelligence. FamilySearch also needs volunteers to test new products, help others with their genealogy research, and even translate English content into other languages.
Many other organizations offer volunteer opportunities. Cyndi's List has a comprehensive listing organized by category. You can also check with individual organizations or institutions of interest about their volunteer opportunities.
What’s Next? Turning Your Wish into Reality
It has been said that a goal without a plan is just a wish. Once you’ve landed on an initial career choice, here are some tips to help you make progress:
- Develop a plan with milestones and dates.
- Build expertise.
- Build relationships with people in your chosen field.
- Expect challenges, and use them as learning opportunities and stepping stones to further progress.
- Make adjustments when needed. The path to your ultimate goal may not be a straight line. You may find an unexpected but perfect job that you couldn’t have foreseen when you began.
Advice from Career Genealogists
Finally, here’s some advice from people with successful careers in the genealogy field:
Marissa Gardner, FamilySearch Library research consultant
Hailey Thompson, FamilySearch Library research consultant
Jenny Hansen, director of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)
Judy Nimer Muhn, professional genealogist
Lynn Broderick, professional genealogist
Dr. Amy Harris, professor and coordinator of the family history BA program at Brigham Young University
Rhonda Lauritzen, professional biographer, instructor, and founder of Evalogue Life
Joe Everett, family and local history librarian
Richard Miller, founder of Goldie May
Additional Resources
Find more genealogy job advice in the resources below.
- Becoming a Professional Genealogist (National Genealogical Society)
- Jobs for a Professional Genealogist? (International Institute of Genealogical Studies)
- Are You Ready to Become a Professional Genealogist? (Association of Professional Genealogists)
- 6 Genealogy Jobs That Turn Your Family History Skills into a Career (FamilyTree Magazine)
- How to Become a Genealogist: Professional Career Guidance (GenealogyBank)
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