Historians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,680 or more. The middle half of historians in Chicago earn between $89,670 and $89,680.
- $52K10th
- $90K25th
- $90KMedian
- $90K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,480 | $7,207 | $41.58 |
| Median | $89,670 | $7,472 | $43.11 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $89,670 | $7,472 | $43.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,680 | $7,473 | $43.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Historians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Historians in Chicago earn 4% less than the Illinois average ($90,280) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($81,240). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $76,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $86,480 | $89,670 | $52,180 | $89,680 | n/a |
| Illinois | $90,280 | $89,670 | $71,190 | $111,650 | n/a |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $86,480, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $65,529 a year, or $5,461 a month and $2,520 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $67,104 | $5,592 |
| Working in IL | $65,529 | $5,461 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for historians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $86,480 buys what about $83,479 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Historians salary in nearby metro areas
- Dayton, OH$85,960
- Minneapolis, MN$113,760
- Buffalo, NY$60,860
- Rochester, NY$64,740
- Washington, DC$115,390
- Atlanta, GA$72,830
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
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Historians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do historians make an hour in Chicago?
$41.58 an hour on average, and $43.11 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level historians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $89,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the historians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $65,529 a year ($5,461 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,480.
Do historians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- 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).
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