Historian Salary
Historians earn a median $76,750 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
What historians do
Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.0% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 300
- Self-employed
- 6%
Employment of historians is projected to grow 3.0% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Historian take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,055
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,759
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,113
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$62,824
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,730 | $20.54 | $36,514 |
| 25th percentile | $57,290 | $27.54 | $48,213 |
| Median (50th) | $76,750 | $36.90 | $62,824 |
| 75th percentile | $99,990 | $48.07 | $79,173 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,810 | $63.37 | $101,358 |
Historian salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121,710 | — | $88,587 | $59,330 – $127,160 | — |
| Maryland | $120,580 | +21.4% | $88,259 | $68,260 – $170,980 | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $118,290 | +0.3% | $84,961 | $60,160 – $156,750 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $103,040 | +22.4% | $75,835 | $72,040 – $147,950 | 50 |
| Virginia | $101,920 | +8.4% | $75,484 | $65,680 – $161,470 | 180 |
| Washington | $99,720 | +5.2% | $78,983 | $65,480 – $116,840 | 30 |
| Oregon | $99,560 | +29.6% | $70,989 | $66,420 – $121,280 | 40 |
| California | $97,420 | +16.9% | $71,268 | $60,620 – $146,220 | 210 |
| Hawaii | $92,520 | +12.1% | $68,416 | $80,290 – $143,020 | 70 |
| Illinois | $89,670 | −2.6% | $67,619 | $71,190 – $111,650 | — |
| Louisiana | $80,620 | +11.6% | $63,514 | $52,960 – $115,210 | 60 |
| Nevada | $80,140 | +5.9% | $65,208 | $78,030 – $108,620 | — |
| Texas | $78,240 | −7.0% | $63,872 | $37,600 – $116,900 | 130 |
| New Jersey | $77,080 | +3.2% | $60,336 | $51,390 – $105,930 | 130 |
| Florida | $74,740 | −11.6% | $61,410 | $44,280 – $112,260 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $73,440 | −27.6% | $58,074 | $42,980 – $116,620 | 120 |
| Kansas | $72,600 | +6.3% | $56,653 | $49,610 – $124,950 | 40 |
| Alabama | $72,490 | +2.0% | $56,467 | $42,300 – $122,930 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,970 | −1.0% | $57,251 | $55,350 – $96,100 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $71,080 | — | $58,835 | $47,090 – $92,270 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $70,050 | — | $55,802 | $48,840 – $128,940 | 30 |
| New Mexico | $66,790 | — | $53,843 | $32,760 – $122,770 | 40 |
| Connecticut | $66,770 | −24.9% | $53,705 | $38,960 – $116,130 | 40 |
| Missouri | $64,230 | −7.7% | $51,707 | $38,270 – $105,060 | 50 |
| Georgia | $63,840 | +7.5% | $50,785 | $51,430 – $117,780 | 110 |
| Indiana | $63,770 | +4.9% | $51,567 | $43,320 – $125,290 | 30 |
| Kentucky | $63,530 | +27.2% | $51,120 | $42,260 – $98,530 | 50 |
| New York | $62,960 | +22.0% | $49,966 | $34,300 – $107,970 | 410 |
| Michigan | $62,920 | +5.7% | $50,313 | $52,480 – $86,030 | 80 |
| Ohio | $60,350 | — | $49,794 | $57,540 – $99,690 | — |
| South Carolina | $52,120 | +0.3% | $42,088 | $39,090 – $97,470 | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $50,980 | −4.6% | $41,394 | $39,290 – $88,710 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $46,010 | +2.7% | $38,041 | $34,760 – $69,760 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $45,810 | — | $37,754 | $37,510 – $84,590 | 50 |
| Utah | $33,840 | +5.8% | $28,814 | $33,840 – $95,300 | 80 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropologist and Archeologist | $70,770 | Master's degree | +6.0% |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | Bachelor's degree | -0.2% |
| Geographer | $102,040 | Bachelor's degree | -2.1% |
| Political Scientist | $142,080 | Master's degree | -2.0% |
| Survey Researcher | $69,460 | Master's degree | -4.8% |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $89,320 | Master's degree | +3.9% |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | Master's degree | +0.8% |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $100,580 | Doctoral or professional degree | +11.7% |
| Sociologist | $106,030 | Master's degree | +3.8% |
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | Master's degree | +2.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a historian make?
The national median salary for historians is $76,750 a year ($36.90 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $42,730 and the top 10% earn over $131,810. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays historians the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $121,710.
How many historians are there in the U.S.?
About 3,450 people work as historians nationwide.