Historian salary in Washington
Historians in Washington earn a median of $99,720 a year ($47.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $116,840 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $76,750. Washington ranks 6th 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 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $96,270, close to the median.
Pay range for historians in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,480 | $31.48 |
| 25th percentile | $81,330 | $39.10 |
| Median | $99,720 | $47.94 |
| 75th percentile | $116,210 | $55.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $116,840 | $56.17 |
| Average (mean) | $96,270 | $46.28 |
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 | $8,310 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,155 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,835.38 |
| Weekly | $1,917.69 |
| Hourly | $47.94 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Planners | $100,990 | $48.56 |
| School Psychologist | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $115,240 | $55.40 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $102,920 | $49.48 |
| Economist | $109,300 | $52.55 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $128,230 | $61.65 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $74,790 | $35.96 |
| Sociologist | $97,170 | $46.72 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Political Scientist | $147,060 | $70.70 |
| Geographer | $112,260 | $53.97 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,920 | $49.48 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for historians in Washington is $99,720 a year, or $47.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $116,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Washington?
The top 10% of historians in Washington earn at least $116,840 a year. The top 25% earn $116,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,480 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $81,330 or less.
How many historians work in Washington?
About 30 historians are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.