Historians
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$74,050
~$36/hr · ~$6,171/mo
US Jobs
3K
Slower than average
AI & Automation Risk
7/10
High Risk
AI & Automation Risk
High Risk 7/10
Historians perform high-level knowledge work—researching, analyzing, and writing—that is increasingly digital and highly susceptible to AI-driven efficiency gains in document processing and synthesis. While the job requires human judgment and physical interaction with artifacts or archives, the core output of reports and articles faces significant restructuring as AI tools become capable of parsing vast historical datasets and drafting complex narratives.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WVBEST VALUE | $115,710 | Above avg (109.5) | $105,630 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,610 | Above avg (112.7) | $89,248 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,590 | Above avg (109.1) | $86,707 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $85,160 | Average (102.4) | $83,194 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $87,920 | Above avg (106.7) | $82,388 |
| Montgomery, AL | $72,550 | Below avg (89.9) | $80,668 |
| Boulder, CO | $76,760 | Average (100.6) | $76,292 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $82,550 | Above avg (111.4) | $74,086 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,360 | Above avg (114.7) | $72,646 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,550 | Above avg (112.6) | $69,732 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $59,400 | Average (100.5) | $59,116 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $54,080 | Average (98.2) | $55,084 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $48,730 | Below avg (91.4) | $53,289 |
| Rochester, NY | $48,620 | Average (98.4) | $49,416 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $32,000 | Average (97.1) | $32,940 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Master's degree
10-Year Growth
+2% (Slower than average)
Hourly Rate
~$36/hr
Monthly Income
~$6,171/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)