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Research / problem-solvingResearch / problem-solving
Genealogist
Genealogists help people discover who their ancestors were and where their family comes from. They dig through old records - birth certificates, census papers, immigration files - and piece together family stories that have been lost or hidden for decades.
No degree needed for many routesEntry routes with no formal quals
AI impact: medium££ payDirect entry route
52
AI impact
how much AI is reshaping it
Robin · your guide
Curious about being a genealogist? Here's the honest picture - what you'd really do, what you'd earn, and every way in. No need to decide anything yet.
What you'd actually do
As a genealogist, you solve puzzles about the past. You help people find their roots, whether they want to trace their family back hundreds of years or are adopted and trying to find their biological relatives. You work like a detective, hunting through dusty records and online databases to find clues about real people and real stories.
Your work involves lots of research - sitting in archives, reading old documents, visiting historical libraries, and searching digital records. You need to be good at spotting mistakes and finding connections in confusing or contradictory information. You interview your clients to understand what matters to them, then write up your findings in clear family trees and reports. It is detective work that helps people feel connected to their history.
1Conduct thorough research using historical documents, public records, and online databases.
2Interview clients to gather personal information and family stories that may aid in research.
3Analyze and interpret genealogical data to construct family trees and lineage charts.
4Prepare detailed reports and presentations to communicate findings to clients effectively.
5Stay updated on the latest genealogical research tools and methodologies.
6Collaborate with local archives, libraries, and historical societies to access rare materials.
7Assist clients in understanding the legal implications of their ancestry discoveries.
8Provide guidance on DNA testing and its implications for genealogical research.
Career progression & pay
01
Getting in
Junior Genealogist
£20,000 - £25,000
A degree in history, archaeology, or a related field is preferred.
As a Junior Genealogist, you will assist in research projects, learning the ropes of genealogical research while working under the guidance of experienced professionals.
02
Building up
Mid-Level Genealogist
£30,000 - £38,000
Experience in genealogical research and a proven track record of client work.
In this role, you will manage your own projects, conduct independent research, and provide clients with comprehensive reports on their ancestry.
03
At the top
Senior Genealogist
£45,000+
Extensive experience in genealogy, possibly with additional certifications from recognised bodies.
As a Senior Genealogist, you will lead complex research projects, mentor junior staff, and may even contribute to publications in the field.
Degrees that lead here via History and Philosophy
American History
The University of East Anglia
American History with a Placement Year
The University of East Anglia
American Studies and History
Swansea University
American Studies and History
Swansea University
American Studies and History
Swansea University
Ancient and Medieval History
University of Edinburgh
Apprenticeships that lead here
No apprenticeship standard maps directly yet - the university or college route is the main way in.
Who hires - top UK employers
Ancestry
A leading online genealogy service that helps people discover their family history.
Findmypast
A UK-based genealogy website that provides access to historical records and family trees.
The National Archives
The official archive and publisher for the UK government, offering a wealth of historical records.
AI & the future of this job
Genealogy sits in an interesting middle ground where AI is already transforming the research layer but the human interpretation and emotional work remains stubbornly irreplaceable. Platforms like Ancestry and MyHeritage already deploy AI to match records, suggest relatives, and auto-build tree branches, meaning the mechanical database-trawling that once took hours now takes seconds. However, interpreting ambiguous historical records, navigating foreign archives, resolving conflicting evidence, and sitting with a client to discuss sensitive discoveries about their family are tasks requiring nuanced human judgement. The role is shifting from researcher to analyst and storyteller, which is a meaningful change but not an existential one.
Within 5 Years
Significant workflow automation
AI will absorb the bulk of routine record matching, transcription of old documents, and preliminary tree construction within five years. Genealogists who spend most of their time on these mechanical tasks will find their output speed expectations rise sharply while client willingness to pay for basic research falls. Demand will increasingly concentrate on complex cases, legal genealogy, and DNA analysis interpretation where human expertise still commands genuine value. Practitioners who adapt their service offering upward will be fine; those who do not will face fee compression.
Within 10 Years
Specialist roles consolidate
By the mid-2030s, AI agents will likely handle entire standard family history projects with minimal human input, making the volume end of the consumer market very difficult to compete in commercially. The profession will consolidate around specialisms: heir hunting and legal probate work, genetic genealogy counselling, forensic genealogy supporting law enforcement, and high-end heritage projects for institutions and wealthy clients. The total number of people earning a living from genealogy will probably shrink, but those with deep expertise in these niches will remain in genuine demand. Academic and archival roles connected to genealogy will be more resilient than freelance consumer services.
Within 20 Years
Niche expert profession
In twenty years, AI will almost certainly be capable of producing a credible family history for most people who want one at very low cost, which will fundamentally reshape the consumer market. What survives as a paid profession will be expert interpretation of genuinely difficult cases, ethical and emotional guidance around sensitive discoveries such as unexpected parentage or links to historical atrocities, and institutional heritage work. Genealogy will likely look more like a consulting specialism than a research service, attracting people with interdisciplinary backgrounds in history, genetics, law, and counselling. The field will be smaller but the remaining practitioners will be doing genuinely sophisticated work.
How to stay ahead
Specialise in DNA and genetic genealogy
Genetic genealogy is growing rapidly and requires skills that AI cannot simply replace, particularly the interpretation of complex DNA match patterns, chromosome mapping, and the sensitive communication of unexpected biological discoveries. Training through recognised providers such as the International Society of Genetic Genealogy adds a credential that positions you well above generalist researchers. This specialism also opens doors into forensic genealogy, which supports missing persons and criminal cases and is largely publicly funded.
Build legal genealogy expertise
Heir hunting and probate genealogy is a commercially robust niche because findings have legal consequences and clients are typically institutions such as solicitors and government bodies rather than individual consumers. This work requires understanding of intestacy law, evidence standards, and formal report writing to a level that AI outputs cannot currently satisfy for court or legal use. Pairing historical research skills with some paralegal or legal studies knowledge makes you a much more compelling candidate for firms operating in this space.
Develop archival and international research skills
AI performs well on digitised, English-language records but struggles significantly with undigitised archives, records in less common languages, and repositories that require physical presence or specialist access. Building genuine expertise in foreign archives, particularly Eastern European, Irish, South Asian, or Caribbean records depending on UK demographic demand, creates a competitive position that AI cannot easily undercut. This is also a skill set valued by universities, libraries, and heritage organisations offering more stable employment than freelance consumer work.
Position as a heritage storyteller, not a data retriever
The emotional and narrative dimension of genealogy work is what clients ultimately value most, and it is the hardest thing for AI to replicate convincingly. Developing skills in interviewing, oral history, documentary presentation, and heritage writing allows you to offer a final product that feels genuinely personal rather than algorithmically generated. Genealogists who frame themselves as heritage consultants and storytellers, rather than researchers who dig up names and dates, will find both premium pricing and greater resilience to automation pressure.
How to get in - your routes
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