Historian salary in Wisconsin
Historians in Wisconsin earn a median of $45,810 a year ($22.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,590 for the top 10%. That is 40% lower than the national median of $76,750. Wisconsin ranks 34th of 35 states for historians pay. There are 0.02 historians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $53,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for historians in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,510 | $18.03 |
| 25th percentile | $39,990 | $19.23 |
| Median | $45,810 | $22.03 |
| 75th percentile | $47,370 | $22.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Average (mean) | $53,030 | $25.49 |
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 | $3,817.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,908.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,761.92 |
| Weekly | $880.96 |
| Hourly | $22.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Historian salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $116,520 | 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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $83,330 | $40.06 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $113,360 | $54.50 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $84,290 | $40.53 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $81,860 | $39.36 |
| Economist | $84,000 | $40.39 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $88,830 | $42.71 |
| Survey Researcher | $92,660 | $44.55 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $82,530 | $39.68 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $84,750 | $40.74 |
| Chemist | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| Biological Technician | $51,750 | $24.88 |
| Chemical Technician | $59,440 | $28.58 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $47,210 | $22.70 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for historians in Wisconsin is $45,810 a year, or $22.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid historians make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of historians in Wisconsin earn at least $84,590 a year. The top 25% earn $47,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for historians in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,510 a year, and a quarter of historians earn $39,990 or less.
How many historians work in Wisconsin?
About 50 historians are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.