Historian salary in Pennsylvania
Historians in Pennsylvania earn a median of $71,970 a year ($34.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,100 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $76,750. Pennsylvania ranks 19th 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 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $78,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,350 | $26.61 |
| 25th percentile | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| Median | $71,970 | $34.60 |
| 75th percentile | $89,750 | $43.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,100 | $46.20 |
| Average (mean) | $78,210 | $37.60 |
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 | $5,997.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,998.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,768.08 |
| Weekly | $1,384.04 |
| Hourly | $34.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Historian salary in cities in Pennsylvania
| 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 |
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,870 | $44.17 |
| School Psychologist | $82,190 | $39.51 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $95,650 | $45.98 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,640 | $46.94 |
| Economist | $115,000 | $55.29 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| Political Scientist | $140,020 | $67.32 |
| Survey Researcher | $63,310 | $30.44 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $99,190 | $47.69 |
| Chemist | $77,090 | $37.06 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $87,050 | $41.85 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $76,110 | $36.59 |
| Biological Technician | $54,950 | $26.42 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for historians in Pennsylvania is $71,970 a year, or $34.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of historians in Pennsylvania earn at least $96,100 a year. The top 25% earn $89,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,350 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $64,500 or less.
How many historians work in Pennsylvania?
About 70 historians are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.