Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionWritingCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive ListeningActive Learning
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Historian salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS
1,920 workers
$89,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
910 workers
$80,500
Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)
720 workers
$124,000
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
700 workers
$65,500
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
570 workers
$70,500
Other Services (except Public Administration)
350 workers
$72,000
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
120 workers
$66,000
Educational Services
80 workers
$74,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
The average base salary for a Historian in the United States is $84,000 per year, or about $40.38 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $59,500 and $103,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,000 across 48 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
