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Genealogical Researcher (Professional)

Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.

Median salary
$57,000/yr
Typical range
$38,000 – $82,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Time to entry
About 4 years

What a Genealogical Researcher (Professional) does

Traces family lineages for private clients, law firms, and DNA testing companies by navigating vital records, probate files, immigration manifests, and international archives to prove biological or legal relationships.

Education & path

The typical entry point is a bachelor's degree. About 4 years.

Estimated cost of that path: ~$40,000. Estimated payback: ~4 years. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.

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