Historians · Illinois

Historians Salary in Illinois

Historians in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $89,670 —16.8% above the national median of $76,750. That ranks IL #10 of 35 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$89,670
Median hourly
$43.11
Entry level (P10)
$71,190
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$111,650
90th percentile
Employment
—
vs U.S. median
+16.8%
U.S. $76,750

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$71,190
$83,490
$89,670
$89,680
$71,190$89,670$111,650
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $89,670.

Highest-paying states for historians

All 35 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Massachusetts$121,710$58.51——
2Maryland$120,580$57.97500.74
3District of Columbia$118,290$56.8725016.30
4Minnesota$103,040$49.54500.73
5Virginia$101,920$49.001801.99
6Washington$99,720$47.94300.41
7Oregon$99,560$47.87400.88
8California$97,420$46.842100.52
9Hawaii$92,520$44.48704.86
10Illinois$89,670$43.11——

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do historians make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for historians in Illinois is $89,670, or $43.11 per hour. That is 16.8% above the national median of $76,750.

What is the entry-level historians salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $71,190 per year ($34.23/hour). The 25th percentile is $83,490.

How many people work as historians in Illinois?

About — people work in this occupation in Illinois.

Is Illinois a good state for historians?

Illinois ranks #10 of 35 states by median wage for this occupation.

Which state pays historians the most?

Massachusetts has the highest median wage at $121,710 per year, followed by Maryland ($120,580) and District of Columbia ($118,290).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes