Historian salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Historians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $88,790 a year ($42.69 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,250 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $76,750. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $97,420. There are 0.02 historians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $98,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,620 | $29.15 |
| 25th percentile | $73,800 | $35.48 |
| Median | $88,790 | $42.69 |
| 75th percentile | $120,140 | $57.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $154,250 | $74.16 |
| Average (mean) | $98,140 | $47.18 |
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 | $7,399.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,699.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,415 |
| Weekly | $1,707.50 |
| Hourly | $42.69 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $88,790 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,210 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $97,420 | 40 |
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $166,400 | $80.00 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $136,250 | $65.50 |
| School Psychologist | $130,540 | $62.76 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,090 | $48.60 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $75,480 | $36.29 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $168,040 | $80.79 |
| Economist | $142,400 | $68.46 |
| Survey Researcher | $110,540 | $53.14 |
| Sociologist | $134,770 | $64.80 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $160,180 | $77.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $138,160 | $66.42 |
| Biological Technician | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $126,860 | $60.99 |
| Chemist | $127,790 | $61.44 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for historians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $88,790 a year, or $42.69 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $154,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of historians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $154,250 a year. The top 25% earn $120,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,620 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $73,800 or less.
How many historians work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 50 historians are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.