The median annual wage for historians was $55,800 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,920, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $101,880.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for historians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Federal government, excluding postal service
$89,450
Professional, scientific, and technical services
60,290
State and local government, excluding education and hospitals
39,420
Most historians work full time during standard business hours. Some work independently and are able to set their own schedules.
Historians
Median annual wages, May 2015
Social scientists and related workers
$72,570
Historians
$55,800
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
