Historian salary in Virginia
Historians in Virginia earn a median of $101,920 a year ($49.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%. That is 33% higher than the national median of $76,750. Virginia ranks 5th of 35 states for historians pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 historians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $107,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,680 | $31.58 |
| 25th percentile | $78,700 | $37.84 |
| Median | $101,920 | $49.00 |
| 75th percentile | $139,420 | $67.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,470 | $77.63 |
| Average (mean) | $107,970 | $51.91 |
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 | $8,493.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,246.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,920 |
| Weekly | $1,960 |
| Hourly | $49.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Historian salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $115,690 | 410 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $86,030 | $41.36 |
| School Psychologist | $85,670 | $41.19 |
| Economist | $137,590 | $66.15 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $140,640 | $67.61 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $80,230 | $38.57 |
| Geographer | $108,020 | $51.93 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| Biological Technician | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,030 | $46.17 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for historians in Virginia is $101,920 a year, or $49.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Virginia?
The top 10% of historians in Virginia earn at least $161,470 a year. The top 25% earn $139,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,680 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $78,700 or less.
How many historians work in Virginia?
About 180 historians are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.