Historians pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $144,870 or more. The middle half of historians in Philadelphia earn between $65,590 and $115,620.
- $52K10th
- $66K25th
- $81KMedian
- $116K75th
- $145K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,480 | $7,623 | $43.98 |
| Median | $81,470 | $6,789 | $39.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,590 | $5,466 | $31.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,620 | $9,635 | $55.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Historians pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Historians in Philadelphia earn 17% more than the Pennsylvania average ($78,210) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($81,240). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $76,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $91,480 | $81,470 | $51,990 | $144,870 | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,210 | $71,970 | $55,350 | $96,100 | 70 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $91,480, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $70,378 a year, or $5,865 a month and $2,707 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $70,378 | $5,865 |
| Working in NJ | $69,549 | $5,796 |
| Working in MD | $69,052 | $5,754 |
| Working in DE | $68,380 | $5,698 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for historians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $91,480 buys what about $89,202 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Historians salary in nearby metro areas
- New York, NY$81,980
- Washington, DC$115,390
- Albany, NY$60,150
- Rochester, NY$64,740
- Buffalo, NY$60,860
- Boston, MA$113,270
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do historians make an hour in Philadelphia?
$43.98 an hour on average, and $39.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level historians salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the historians take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $70,378 a year ($5,865 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,480. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do historians earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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