Historians Salary
The median historians salary in the United States is $76,750 per year ($36.90/hour). Salaries range from $42,730 at the entry level to $131,810+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 3,450 historians jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$76,750
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.90
per hour
Employment
3,450
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$42,730
25th percentile
$57,290
Median
$76,750
75th percentile
$99,990
90th percentile
$131,810
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+2.2%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Master's degree
Historians Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$34K$122K■ No data
Top Paying States
Massachusetts
$122K
+59%
Maryland
$121K
+57%
District of Columbia
$118K
+54%
Minnesota
$103K
+34%
Virginia
$102K
+33%
Washington
$100K
+30%
Oregon
$100K
+30%
California
$97K
+27%
Hawaii
$93K
+21%
Illinois
$90K
+17%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121,710 | +58.6% |
| Maryland | $120,580 | +57.1% |
| District of Columbia | $118,290 | +54.1% |
| Minnesota | $103,040 | +34.3% |
| Virginia | $101,920 | +32.8% |
| Washington | $99,720 | +29.9% |
| Oregon | $99,560 | +29.7% |
| California | $97,420 | +26.9% |
| Hawaii | $92,520 | +20.5% |
| Illinois | $89,670 | +16.8% |
Showing 1–10 of 35
Historians Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $121,710 | +58.6% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $116,520 | +51.8% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $115,690 | +50.7% |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $101,900 | +32.8% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,210 | +28.0% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,420 | +26.9% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $95,470 | +24.4% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $89,670 | +16.8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $88,790 | +15.7% |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $82,400 | +7.4% |
Showing 1–10 of 20
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A historians earning $76,750/year would need 777 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 834 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how historians salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Historians salary trend (2011–2024) →