Working in an old or historic house can be an interesting career option for people who enjoy buildings, history, construction, maintenance, museums, or hands-on work. These jobs are not limited to cleaning or general maintenance. Historic properties need skilled workers to repair buildings, preserve original materials, manage visitors, maintain grounds, and protect important architectural features.
There are also different levels of work. Some positions can be entered with practical trade skills, while others require education or professional experience in architecture, history, preservation, archaeology, or property management. Current U.S. job listings include positions such as preservationists, historic property coordinators, maintenance technicians, preservation planners, and restoration specialists.
What Jobs Can You Get in Old Houses?
Historic houses can operate as private residences, museums, historic sites, hotels, visitor attractions, or properties managed by government and nonprofit organizations.
Common jobs include:
Job Typical Work
Historic Preservation Worker Repairs and protects historic buildings
Maintenance Technician Handles routine building maintenance
Restoration Carpenter Repairs woodwork, doors, windows, and structures
Preservationist Protects historic materials and structures
Historic Property Coordinator Helps manage historic properties
Museum House Attendant Welcomes visitors and protects exhibits
Tour Guide Explains the history of the property
Groundskeeper Maintains gardens and outdoor areas
Painter Maintains interior and exterior surfaces
Mason Repairs historic brick and stone
Facilities Manager Oversees building operations
Preservation Planner Helps plan historic preservation projects
The type of job available depends on the property and its purpose.
How Much Do Jobs in Old Houses Pay?
There is no single salary for working in a historic house. Pay depends on the occupation, location, experience, employer, and level of responsibility.
Current job listings show how widely compensation can vary. For example, a National Park Service preservationist position in Saint Augustine, Florida, was listed at $28.45–$33.19 per hour. That position involved skilled preservation and maintenance work on historic structures.
Other historic preservation positions can pay substantially more. Current listings include historic preservation specialists with salaries ranging from approximately $64,000 to more than $105,000 per year, depending on the position and location. Some senior planning and management roles have advertised salaries above $100,000.
A recent Historic Buildings Assistant position in Boston, for example, advertised $25–$28 per hour for part-time work involving maintenance and preservation of historic house museums.
These figures are examples from specific job postings, not guaranteed salaries for every historic-house job.
Estimated Salary by Job Type
Job Type Example Pay Range
Historic House Assistant $25–$28/hour
Preservation/Restoration Worker $25–$35+/hour
Preservationist $28–$33+/hour
Maintenance Technician Varies by employer
Historic Preservation Specialist $60,000–$105,000+ annually
Preservation Planner $80,000–$115,000+ annually
Senior Preservation Manager $90,000–$140,000+ annually
Important: These are illustrative ranges based on current job examples and should not be treated as a national salary schedule.
Restoration and Repair Jobs
One of the most practical career paths is historic building restoration.
Old houses often contain materials and construction methods that differ from modern buildings. Workers may repair wood windows, doors, floors, plaster, masonry, roofs, or other historic features.
Restoration Carpenter
Carpenters can work on:
Historic doors
Wooden windows
Floors
Trim
Stairs
Structural wood
Decorative woodwork
Traditional carpentry skills can be particularly valuable when a property needs repairs that match its original construction.
Mason
Historic buildings may require specialized masonry work involving brick, stone, mortar, and other materials.
A mason may repair deteriorated walls, chimneys, foundations, or decorative masonry while trying to preserve the character of the building.
Painter and Plaster Worker
Paint and plaster are also important parts of historic-property maintenance.
Workers may repair damaged plaster, prepare surfaces, restore decorative finishes, or maintain exterior woodwork.
Historic House Museum Jobs
Some old houses operate as museums or public historic sites.
These properties need employees beyond construction workers.
Possible positions include:
Tour guide
Museum attendant
Visitor services assistant
Education coordinator
Collections assistant
House interpreter
Facilities employee
Event staff
Grounds worker
For people who enjoy history and working with visitors, these positions can provide a different career path from construction and restoration.
Government Jobs Working With Historic Buildings
Government agencies employ people to maintain and preserve historic properties.
The National Park Service, for example, employs preservation and maintenance workers at historic sites. Current preservation-related listings include skilled trade work involving carpentry, masonry, painting, roofing, gardening, and preservation techniques.
Historic preservation jobs are also available through state and local governments. Current listings include preservation specialists, planners, archaeologists, architectural historians, and preservation supervisors.
What Qualifications Do You Need?
The requirements depend on the job.
Hands-on positions may focus more on practical skills and trade experience. For example, carpentry, masonry, painting, electrical, plumbing, and general maintenance experience can be useful.
Professional preservation positions may require education in areas such as:
Historic preservation
Architecture
Architectural history
History
Archaeology
Anthropology
Planning
Conservation
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation notes that the field includes opportunities for people with backgrounds in architecture, history, archaeology, anthropology, planning, conservation, and traditional trades.
Can Beginners Get Jobs in Historic Houses?
Yes, although entry-level opportunities vary.
A person without professional preservation experience may start with maintenance, visitor services, grounds work, museum support, apprenticeships, internships, or traditional trades.
Training programs can also provide a path into the field. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation highlights internships and hands-on preservation training opportunities for people entering the profession.
For someone interested in hands-on work, learning carpentry, masonry, painting, roofing, or building maintenance can be a practical starting point.
Is Working in an Old House a Good Career?
It can be a good career for someone who enjoys historic buildings and does not mind hands-on or specialized work.
The biggest advantage is the variety of career paths. Someone might begin with maintenance or restoration and later move into supervision, property management, preservation planning, or museum operations.
However, the work can also be physically demanding. Some positions require lifting, climbing ladders, working outdoors, using tools, or working in older structures. A recent historic buildings assistant posting, for example, required the ability to lift 20–40 pounds and climb ladders.
Where Can You Find Old House Jobs?
Search for more than just “old house jobs.” Employers often use professional terms such as:
Historic preservation jobs
Historic building restoration jobs
Historic property jobs
Preservation maintenance jobs
Museum house jobs
Restoration carpenter jobs
Historic preservation specialist jobs
Cultural resource management jobs
Historic site jobs
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation maintains information about preservation careers and points job seekers toward preservation job boards, internships, and federal opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do people make working in old houses?
Pay varies widely. Current examples range from about $25 per hour for some historic-house assistant positions to more than $100,000 per year for certain professional preservation and planning positions.
What is the best job for working in historic houses?
There is no single best job. Restoration carpentry and preservation work may suit people who prefer hands-on work, while museum, planning, architecture, and property-management positions may suit people interested in professional or administrative careers.
Do you need a degree to work in a historic house?
Not always. Some maintenance, restoration, grounds, visitor-service, and trade positions can focus on skills and experience. Professional preservation positions may require specialized education.
Can I work in a historic house with no experience?
Entry-level opportunities may be available in maintenance, visitor services, grounds work, internships, apprenticeships, and preservation training. Building practical skills can improve your chances.
Where can I find historic preservation jobs in the USA?
Historic preservation job boards, government employment sites, museums, nonprofit organizations, historic foundations, and private restoration companies can all advertise these positions.