Historian salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Historians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $115,690 a year ($55.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 410 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%. That is 51% higher than the national median of $76,750. Pay here is 2% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $118,290. There are 0.13 historians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $115,390, close to the median.
Pay range for historians in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,160 | $28.92 |
| 25th percentile | $78,720 | $37.85 |
| Median | $115,690 | $55.62 |
| 75th percentile | $148,700 | $71.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,470 | $77.63 |
| Average (mean) | $115,390 | $55.48 |
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 | $9,640.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,820.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,449.62 |
| Weekly | $2,224.81 |
| Hourly | $55.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $115,690 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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $81,470 | 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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $138,250 | $66.47 |
| Economist | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Political Scientist | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| School Psychologist | $106,550 | $51.23 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $101,670 | $48.88 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $104,770 | $50.37 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $129,730 | $62.37 |
| Survey Researcher | $97,780 | $47.01 |
| Geographer | $118,290 | $56.87 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Sociologist | $103,840 | $49.93 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $107,110 | $51.49 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $114,920 | $55.25 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $170,980 | $82.20 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for historians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $115,690 a year, or $55.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of historians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $161,470 a year. The top 25% earn $148,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,160 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $78,720 or less.
How many historians work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 410 historians are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.