Historians Salary in the United States

Median annual wage: $76,750 · Median hourly: $36.90 · Employment: 3,450

Annual Salary Percentiles

PercentileAnnualHourly
10th$42,730$20.55
25th$57,290$27.54
Median$76,750$36.90
75th$99,990$48.07
90th$131,810$63.37

Quick Facts

What this means

Across the United States, 3,450 historians are employed (— per 1,000 jobs), making this a mid-sized occupations in the national economy.

The median wage in this area is 0.0% below the national median — a difference of about $0 per year for a typical worker.

Historians Salary by State

The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.

StateMedian AnnualMedian Hourlyvs NationalEmployment
Alabama $72,490 $34.85 -5.6% 60
California $97,420 $46.84 +26.9% 210
Connecticut $66,770 $32.10 -13.0% 40
District of Columbia $118,290 $56.87 +54.1% 250
Florida $74,740 $35.93 -2.6% 110
Georgia $63,840 $30.69 -16.8% 110
Hawaii $92,520 $44.48 +20.5% 70
Illinois $89,670 $43.11 +16.8% 0
Indiana $63,770 $30.66 -16.9% 30
Kansas $72,600 $34.90 -5.4% 40
Kentucky $63,530 $30.54 -17.2% 50
Louisiana $80,620 $38.76 +5.0% 60
Maryland $120,580 $57.97 +57.1% 50
Massachusetts $121,710 $58.51 +58.6% 0
Michigan $62,920 $30.25 -18.0% 80
Minnesota $103,040 $49.54 +34.3% 50
Mississippi $46,010 $22.12 -40.1% 90
Missouri $64,230 $30.88 -16.3% 50
Nebraska $70,050 $33.68 -8.7% 30
Nevada $80,140 $38.53 +4.4% 0
New Jersey $77,080 $37.06 +0.4% 130
New Mexico $66,790 $32.11 -13.0% 40
New York $62,960 $30.27 -18.0% 410
North Carolina $73,440 $35.31 -4.3% 120
Ohio $60,350 $29.01 -21.4% 0
Oklahoma $50,980 $24.51 -33.6% 50
Oregon $99,560 $47.87 +29.7% 40
Pennsylvania $71,970 $34.60 -6.2% 70
South Carolina $52,120 $25.06 -32.1% 60
Tennessee $71,080 $34.17 -7.4% 40
Texas $78,240 $37.62 +1.9% 130
Utah $33,840 $16.27 -55.9% 80
Virginia $101,920 $49.00 +32.8% 180
Washington $99,720 $47.94 +29.9% 30
Wisconsin $45,810 $22.03 -40.3% 50

Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for historians?

The median annual wage for historians is $76,750 ($36.90 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2024.

Which state pays historians the most?

Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

How many historians are employed in the U.S.?

There are approximately 3,450 historians employed nationally, per BLS OES.

How much do historians make per hour?

The median hourly wage is $36.90. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.