Historians pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,770 or more. The middle half of historians in Los Angeles earn between $69,500 and $128,350.
- $53K10th
- $70K25th
- $98KMedian
- $128K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,120 | $8,260 | $47.65 |
| Median | $98,210 | $8,184 | $47.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,500 | $5,792 | $33.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,350 | $10,696 | $61.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Historians pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Historians in Los Angeles earn about the same as the California average ($100,750) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($81,240). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $76,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $99,120 | $98,210 | $53,320 | $136,770 | 50 |
| California | $100,750 | $97,420 | $60,620 | $146,220 | 210 |
| United States | $81,240 | $76,750 | $42,730 | $131,810 | 3,450 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Historians salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $99,120, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $73,435 a year, or $6,120 a month and $2,824 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for historians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $99,120 buys what about $87,280 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 9.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Historians salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 2nd of 3 California metro areas for this job; Sacramento pays the most ($103,980).
- Sacramento$103,980
- Los Angeles$99,120
- San Francisco$98,140
Highest-paying cities for historians
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($115,390).
- Washington, DC$115,390
- Minneapolis, MN$113,760
- Boston, MA$113,270
- Sacramento, CA$103,980
- Honolulu, HI$101,930
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Historians salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do historians make an hour in Los Angeles?
$47.65 an hour on average, and $47.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level historians salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $53,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the historians take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $73,435 a year ($6,120 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,120. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do historians earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% more than the U.S. average for this job ($81,240).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3093; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.