How much does a historian make in Washington?
$115,700a year
Median yearly pay for historians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $55.62 an hour or $9,641 a month.
- Hourly
- $55.62
- Vs. national median
- +51%
- Rank among cities
- 3 of 20
- Jobs in the area
- 410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $60,160Median: $115,700Highest 10%: $161,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,160 | $28.92 | |
| 25th | $78,720 | $37.85 | |
| Median | $115,700 | $55.62 | |
| 75th | $148,700 | $71.49 | |
| 90th | $161,500 | $77.63 |
Other cities in District of Columbia
Median yearly pay for historians.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Washington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $171,600 |
| Physical Scientist | $171,000 |
| Astronomer | $156,800 |
| Economist | $156,800 |
| Political Scientist | $156,700 |
| Hydrologist | $152,700 |
| Chemist | $144,700 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $138,300 |
| Geoscientist | $132,600 |
| Psychologist | $129,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a historian make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $55.62 ($115,700 a year).
Do historians make more in Washington than the national average?
Yes: $115,700 against $76,750 nationally, 51% more.
How does Washington compare with the rest of District of Columbia?
The median in District of Columbia is $118,300, so Washington pays 2% less.
Where does Washington rank for historian pay?
3 of 20 metro areas with data.
How much does a historian make starting out in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $60,160 or less a year; the top 10% make $161,500 or more.
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.