How much does a historian make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $36.90 an hour or $6,396 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.90
- Average (mean)
- $81,240
- Jobs
- 3,450
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,730 | $20.54 | |
| 25th | $57,290 | $27.54 | |
| Median | $76,750 | $36.90 | |
| 75th | $99,990 | $48.07 | |
| 90th | $131,800 | $63.37 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Massachusetts | $121,700 |
| Maryland | $120,600 |
| District of Columbia | $118,300 |
| Minnesota | $103,000 |
| Virginia | $101,900 |
| Washington | $99,720 |
| Oregon | $99,560 |
| California | $97,420 |
| Hawaii | $92,520 |
| Illinois | $89,670 |
| Louisiana | $80,620 |
| Nevada | $80,140 |
| Texas | $78,240 |
| New Jersey | $77,080 |
| Florida | $74,740 |
| North Carolina | $73,440 |
| Kansas | $72,600 |
| Alabama | $72,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,970 |
| Tennessee | $71,080 |
| Nebraska | $70,050 |
| New Mexico | $66,790 |
| Connecticut | $66,770 |
| Missouri | $64,230 |
| Georgia | $63,840 |
| Indiana | $63,770 |
| Kentucky | $63,530 |
| New York | $62,960 |
| Michigan | $62,920 |
| Ohio | $60,350 |
| South Carolina | $52,120 |
| Oklahoma | $50,980 |
| Mississippi | $46,010 |
| Wisconsin | $45,810 |
| Utah | $33,840 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Boston, MA | $121,700 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $116,500 |
| Washington, DC | $115,700 |
| San Antonio, TX | $101,900 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $98,210 |
| Sacramento, CA | $97,420 |
| Honolulu, HI | $95,470 |
| Chicago, IL | $89,670 |
| San Francisco, CA | $88,790 |
| New Orleans, LA | $82,400 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $81,470 |
| New York, NY | $80,400 |
| Montgomery, AL | $76,400 |
| Buffalo, NY | $68,010 |
| Atlanta, GA | $61,640 |
In other countries
Historian belongs to the international group "Philosophers, historians and political scientists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Economist$124,700
- Survey Researcher$69,460
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$194,000
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$100,600
- School Psychologist$95,990
- Psychologist$110,800
- Sociologist$106,000
- Urban and Regional Planner$89,320
- Anthropologist and Archeologist$70,770
- Geographer$102,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a historian make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $36.90 ($76,750 a year).
How much does a historian make a month?
About $6,396 a month before tax, based on a median of $76,750 a year.
How much does a historian make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $42,730 or less a year ($20.54 an hour); the top 10% make $131,800 or more.
Which state pays historians the most?
Massachusetts, with a median of $121,700 a year, followed by Maryland ($120,600) and District of Columbia ($118,300).
Which city pays historians the most?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, with a median of $121,700 a year.
How many historians are there in the United States?
About 3,450 people work as historians.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.