Social and religious professionals

How to become a philosopher, historian or political scientist

Official title: Philosophers, historians and political scientists

Also called: Genealogist, Historian, Philosopher, Political scientist

Philosophers, historians and political scientists conduct research into the nature of human experience and existence, phases or aspects of human history, and political structures, movements and behaviour. They document and report on findings to inform and guide political and individual actions

Main tasks

Researching, including by reasoning, into the general causes, principles and meanings of the world, human actions, experience and existence, and interpreting and developing philosophical concepts and theories
Consulting and comparing primary sources such as original or contemporary records of past events, and secondary sources such as archaeological or anthropological findings
Extracting relevant material, checking its authenticity, and researching into and describing the history of a particular period, country or region, or a particular facet - for example economic, social or political - of its history
Conducting research in such fields as political philosophy, or past and present theory and practice of political systems, institutions or behaviour
Observing contemporary political institutions and opinions, collecting data on them from various sources, including interviews with government and political party officials and other relevant persons
Developing theories, models and methods to interpret and describe the nature of human experience and historical and political events and behaviour
Presenting findings and conclusions for publication or use by government, political parties or other organizations and interested persons
Preparing scholarly papers and reports

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: HK$48,000 a month
About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become a philosopher, historian or political scientist?

Usually. 85% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a philosopher, historian or political scientist?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026