Historian salary in Tennessee
Historians in Tennessee earn a median of $71,080 a year ($34.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,270 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $76,750. Tennessee ranks 20th 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 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $71,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,090 | $22.64 |
| 25th percentile | $64,050 | $30.79 |
| Median | $71,080 | $34.17 |
| 75th percentile | $79,700 | $38.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,270 | $44.36 |
| Average (mean) | $71,860 | $34.55 |
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 | $5,923.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,961.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,733.85 |
| Weekly | $1,366.92 |
| Hourly | $34.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| School Psychologist | $76,850 | $36.95 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $80,860 | $38.87 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $78,970 | $37.97 |
| Survey Researcher | $66,900 | $32.16 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $138,070 | $66.38 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $60,310 | $28.99 |
| Economist | $117,650 | $56.56 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $102,720 | $49.39 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $81,190 | $39.03 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| Chemical Technician | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Biological Technician | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $76,840 | $36.94 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for historians in Tennessee is $71,080 a year, or $34.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,090 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of historians in Tennessee earn at least $92,270 a year. The top 25% earn $79,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,090 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $64,050 or less.
How many historians work in Tennessee?
About 40 historians are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.