SOC 19-3093 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Historians
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries
Nationally, historians earned a median of $76,750 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 3,450 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.
National pay distribution
Pay by state
Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.
| State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121,710 | $58.51 | Not published | Not published |
| Maryland | $120,580 | $57.97 | 50 | 0.0 |
| District of Columbia | $118,290 | $56.87 | 250 | 0.4 |
| Minnesota | $103,040 | $49.54 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Virginia | $101,920 | $49.00 | 180 | 0.0 |
| Washington | $99,720 | $47.94 | 30 | 0.0 |
| Oregon | $99,560 | $47.87 | 40 | 0.0 |
| California | $97,420 | $46.84 | 210 | 0.0 |
| Hawaii | $92,520 | $44.48 | 70 | 0.1 |
| Illinois | $89,670 | $43.11 | Not published | Not published |
| Louisiana | $80,620 | $38.76 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Nevada | $80,140 | $38.53 | Not published | Not published |
| Texas | $78,240 | $37.62 | 130 | 0.0 |
| New Jersey | $77,080 | $37.06 | 130 | 0.0 |
| Florida | $74,740 | $35.93 | 110 | 0.0 |
| North Carolina | $73,440 | $35.31 | 120 | 0.0 |
| Kansas | $72,600 | $34.90 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Alabama | $72,490 | $34.85 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,970 | $34.60 | 70 | 0.0 |
| Tennessee | $71,080 | $34.17 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Nebraska | $70,050 | $33.68 | 30 | 0.0 |
| New Mexico | $66,790 | $32.11 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Connecticut | $66,770 | $32.10 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Missouri | $64,230 | $30.88 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Georgia | $63,840 | $30.69 | 110 | 0.0 |
| Indiana | $63,770 | $30.66 | 30 | 0.0 |
| Kentucky | $63,530 | $30.54 | 50 | 0.0 |
| New York | $62,960 | $30.27 | 410 | 0.0 |
| Michigan | $62,920 | $30.25 | 80 | 0.0 |
| Ohio | $60,350 | $29.01 | Not published | Not published |
| South Carolina | $52,120 | $25.06 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Oklahoma | $50,980 | $24.51 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Mississippi | $46,010 | $22.12 | 90 | 0.1 |
| Wisconsin | $45,810 | $22.03 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Utah | $33,840 | $16.27 | 80 | 0.0 |
Pay by metro area
All 20 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.
Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.