Historian salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Historians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $98,210 a year ($47.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,770 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $76,750. Pay here is 1% higher than the California statewide median of $97,420. There are 0.01 historians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.35). The average (mean) salary is $99,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,320 | $25.63 |
| 25th percentile | $69,500 | $33.42 |
| Median | $98,210 | $47.22 |
| 75th percentile | $128,350 | $61.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,770 | $65.76 |
| Average (mean) | $99,120 | $47.65 |
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 | $8,184.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,092.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,777.31 |
| Weekly | $1,888.65 |
| Hourly | $47.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $98,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Historian salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,420 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $88,790 | 50 |
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 |
See Historian pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $99,250 | $47.72 |
| School Psychologist | $122,390 | $58.84 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $111,380 | $53.55 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $100,550 | $48.34 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $153,630 | $73.86 |
| Economist | $151,510 | $72.84 |
| Sociologist | $124,540 | $59.87 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,890 | $64.85 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,610 | $49.33 |
| Chemist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $105,340 | $50.64 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,070 | $27.92 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for historians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $98,210 a year, or $47.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of historians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $136,770 a year. The top 25% earn $128,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,320 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $69,500 or less.
How many historians work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 50 historians are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.