California Median
$97,420
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.84
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+27% vs US median
US median $76,750
State Rank
#8 of 35
210 employed here
How much does a Historian make in California?
A Historian working in California earns a median salary of $97,420 per year, or about $46.84 per hour. That is 27% above the national median of $76,750 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $60,620 while the top 10% make $146,220 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $73,460 and $129,250 a year.
Historian salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,620 | $29.14 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $73,460 | $35.32 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,420 | $46.84 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $129,250 | $62.14 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,220 | $70.30 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 8th out of 35 states and territories for Historian pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Historian salary in other states
Massachusetts $121,710Maryland $120,580District of Columbia $118,290Minnesota $103,040Virginia $101,920Washington $99,720Oregon $99,560Hawaii $92,520Illinois $89,670Louisiana $80,620Nevada $80,140Texas $78,240New Jersey $77,080Florida $74,740North Carolina $73,440Kansas $72,600Alabama $72,490Pennsylvania $71,970Tennessee $71,080Nebraska $70,050New Mexico $66,790Connecticut $66,770Missouri $64,230Georgia $63,840Indiana $63,770Kentucky $63,530New York $62,960Michigan $62,920Ohio $60,350South Carolina $52,120Oklahoma $50,980Mississippi $46,010Wisconsin $45,810Utah $33,840
Working as a Historian in California
Nationally, about 3,000 people work as Historians in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($97,420) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Historian make in California?
The median Historian salary in California is $97,420 per year, or about $46.84 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $60,620 at the entry level to $146,220 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Historians about 27% more than the national median of $76,750. California ranks 8th out of 35 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Historians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $97,420 a year. About 210 Historians are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Historian salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.