Historian salary in District of Columbia
Historians in District of Columbia earn a median of $118,290 a year ($56.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,750 for the top 10%. That is 54% higher than the national median of $76,750. District of Columbia ranks 3rd of 35 states for historians pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.36 historians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 16.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $113,140, close to the median.
Pay range for historians in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| 25th percentile | $62,380 | $29.99 |
| Median | $118,290 | $56.87 |
| 75th percentile | $147,220 | $70.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Average (mean) | $113,140 | $54.39 |
Half of historians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,857.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,928.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,549.62 |
| Weekly | $2,274.81 |
| Hourly | $56.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $118,290 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Historian salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $115,690 | 410 |
Highest-paying states for historians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $121,710 |
| Maryland | $120,580 |
| District of Columbia | $118,290 |
| Minnesota | $103,040 |
| Virginia | $101,920 |
| Washington | $99,720 |
| Oregon | $99,560 |
| California | $97,420 |
| Hawaii | $92,520 |
| Illinois | $89,670 |
Related jobs in District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Political Scientist | $152,530 | $73.33 |
| Economist | $167,590 | $80.57 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $128,440 | $61.75 |
| School Psychologist | $107,500 | $51.68 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $125,110 | $60.15 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $107,000 | $51.44 |
| Survey Researcher | $102,390 | $49.23 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $137,000 | $65.87 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| Physicist | $157,040 | $75.50 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a historian make in District of Columbia?
The median salary for historians in District of Columbia is $118,290 a year, or $56.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $156,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of historians in District of Columbia earn at least $156,750 a year. The top 25% earn $147,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,160 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $62,380 or less.
How many historians work in District of Columbia?
About 250 historians are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.