Historian salary in Illinois
Historians in Illinois earn a median of $89,670 a year ($43.11 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $71,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,650 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $76,750. Illinois ranks 10th of 35 states for historians pay. The average (mean) salary is $90,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,190 | $34.23 |
| 25th percentile | $83,490 | $40.14 |
| Median | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| 75th percentile | $89,680 | $43.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,650 | $53.68 |
| Average (mean) | $90,280 | $43.41 |
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 | $7,472.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,736.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,448.85 |
| Weekly | $1,724.42 |
| Hourly | $43.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Historian salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $89,670 | n/a |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,750 | $40.27 |
| School Psychologist | $84,690 | $40.72 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $91,360 | $43.92 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $69,810 | $33.56 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $99,050 | $47.62 |
| Survey Researcher | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| Political Scientist | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| Geographer | $92,640 | $44.54 |
| Sociologist | $140,770 | $67.68 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,330 | $39.58 |
| Chemist | $85,230 | $40.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $98,270 | $47.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $65,960 | $31.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for historians in Illinois is $89,670 a year, or $43.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,650 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Illinois?
The top 10% of historians in Illinois earn at least $111,650 a year. The top 25% earn $89,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,190 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $83,490 or less.