19 Series · SOC 19-3093

Historians Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$76,750
Median / year
$131,810
Top 10% earn
+2.2%
Growth '23–'33
3,450
US workers

Historians earn a median of $76,750 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $76,750, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $42,730 (10th percentile) to $131,810 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,450 US workers. Massachusetts pays the most ($121,710), since pay varies by state and metro area.

19 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Historians earn a median of $76,750, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 69% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #31 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.2% by 2033.

$76,750
Median annual wage
Top 31%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#31 of 48
in Life, Physical, and Social Science
3.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Massachusetts at $121,710. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

Historians (SOC 19-3093) pays a national median of $76,750 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $42,730 at the 10th percentile to $131,810 at the 90th, with a mean of $81,240 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 3,450 Americans work in this occupation across 35 reporting states and 20 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Massachusetts pays the highest state median at $121,710, which is +59% above the national figure. The top metro is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $121,710 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 3,450 jobs Median $76,750/yr

Median Salary

$76,750

per year

Median Hourly

$36.90/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$81,240

average

Employment

3,450

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Historians pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$76,750 Top 31% higher than 69% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Historians; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Historians sits on the slower-growing side at +2.2% growth and $76,750 median pay.

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Historians sits on the slower-growing side at +2.2% growth and $76,750 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Historians sits on the slower-growing side at +2.2% growth and $76,750 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+2.2%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

300

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Master's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

1.5/100K

Injury Rate

0.7/100

Danger Index

3.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Historians roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.8
Writing 4.1
Critical Thinking 4.1
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Active Learning 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 3.4
Learning Strategies 3.3
Social Perceptiveness 3.1
Instructing 3.1

Knowledge Areas

History and Archeology 4.6
English Language 4.1
Sociology and Anthropology 3.6
Geography 3.5
Administrative 3.5
Education and Training 3.3
Communications and Media 3.0
Fine Arts 2.9
Customer and Personal Service 2.9
Administration and Management 2.7

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
  • ▸ Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
  • ▸ Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
  • ▸ Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
  • ▸ Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
  • ▸ Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
  • ▸ Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
  • ▸ Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.
  • ▸ Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.
  • ▸ Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$42,730$57,290$76,750$99,990$131,810
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$20.55$27.54$36.90$48.07$63.37
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$42,730

25th Percentile

$57,290

Median

$76,750

75th Percentile

$99,990

90th Percentile

$131,810

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Massachusetts $121,710 2. Maryland $120,580 3. District of Columbia $118,290 4. Minnesota $103,040 5. Virginia $101,920

Lowest Paying States

31. Utah $33,840 32. Wisconsin $45,810 33. Mississippi $46,010 34. Oklahoma $50,980 35. South Carolina $52,120
View all 35 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Massachusetts $121,710 +59% above national
2 Maryland $120,580 +57% above national
3 District of Columbia $118,290 +54% above national
4 Minnesota $103,040 +34% above national
5 Virginia $101,920 +33% above national
6 Washington $99,720 +30% above national
7 Oregon $99,560 +30% above national
8 California $97,420 +27% above national
9 Hawaii $92,520 +21% above national
10 Illinois $89,670 +17% above national
11 Louisiana $80,620 +5% above national
12 Nevada $80,140 +4% above national
13 Texas $78,240 +2% above national
14 New Jersey $77,080 same as national
15 Florida $74,740 3% below national
16 North Carolina $73,440 4% below national
17 Kansas $72,600 5% below national
18 Alabama $72,490 6% below national
19 Pennsylvania $71,970 6% below national
20 Tennessee $71,080 7% below national
21 Nebraska $70,050 9% below national
22 New Mexico $66,790 13% below national
23 Connecticut $66,770 13% below national
24 Missouri $64,230 16% below national
25 Georgia $63,840 17% below national
26 Indiana $63,770 17% below national
27 Kentucky $63,530 17% below national
28 New York $62,960 18% below national
29 Michigan $62,920 18% below national
30 Ohio $60,350 21% below national
31 South Carolina $52,120 32% below national
32 Oklahoma $50,980 34% below national
33 Mississippi $46,010 40% below national
34 Wisconsin $45,810 40% below national
35 Utah $33,840 56% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $121,710 2. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $116,520 3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $115,690 4. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $101,900 5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $98,210

Lowest Paying Metros

16. Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $33,840 17. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $45,530 18. Rochester, NY $46,630 19. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $48,610 20. Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $58,640
View all 20 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $121,710 +59% above national
2 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $116,520 +52% above national
3 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $115,690 +51% above national
4 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $101,900 +33% above national
5 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $98,210 +28% above national
6 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $97,420 +27% above national
7 Urban Honolulu, HI $95,470 +24% above national
8 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $89,670 +17% above national
9 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $88,790 +16% above national
10 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $82,400 +7% above national
11 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $81,470 +6% above national
12 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $80,400 +5% above national
13 Montgomery, AL $76,400 same as national
14 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $68,010 11% below national
15 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $61,640 20% below national
16 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $58,640 24% below national
17 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $48,610 37% below national
18 Rochester, NY $46,630 39% below national
19 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $45,530 41% below national
20 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $33,840 56% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.

Agricultural Technicians

SOC 19-4012

Animal Scientists

SOC 19-1011

Anthropologists and Archeologists

SOC 19-3091

Astronomers

SOC 19-2011

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

SOC 19-2021
Compare Historians side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Historians make? ▼
The median annual salary for Historians is $76,750 ($36.90/hour). The salary range spans from $42,730 at the 10th percentile to $131,810 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Historians the most? ▼
Massachusetts pays the highest median salary for Historians at $121,710/year, which is +59% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Historians? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Historians is Master's degree.
How dangerous is being a Historians? ▼
Historians has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.7 per 100 workers.
Is Historians a good career? ▼
Employment for Historians is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 300 openings are projected each year.
How does Historians pay vary by state? ▼
Historians salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $121,710/year, while South Carolina pays the least at $52,120/year. BLS data covers 35 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Historians? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Historians is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $121,710/year. BLS reports wage data for 20 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Historians pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $99,990/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Massachusetts leads at $121,710/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.