Historian salary in California
Historians in California earn a median of $97,420 a year ($46.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 210 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,220 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $76,750. California ranks 8th of 35 states for historians pay. There are 0.01 historians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $100,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,620 | $29.15 |
| 25th percentile | $73,460 | $35.32 |
| Median | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| 75th percentile | $129,250 | $62.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,220 | $70.30 |
| Average (mean) | $100,750 | $48.44 |
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 | $8,118.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,059.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,746.92 |
| Weekly | $1,873.46 |
| Hourly | $46.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Historian salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $98,210 | 50 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| School Psychologist | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Economist | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| Sociologist | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| Geographer | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for historians in California is $97,420 a year, or $46.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in California?
The top 10% of historians in California earn at least $146,220 a year. The top 25% earn $129,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,620 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $73,460 or less.
How many historians work in California?
About 210 historians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.