SOC 19-3093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Historians — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The median wage for Historians in Chicago, IL is $89,670 per year, 16.8% above the national median of $76,750.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Historians in Chicago, IL is $89,670 per year, 16.8% above the national median of $76,750. Pay ranges from under $52,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $89,680 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $89,670 to $89,680.
Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 185th of 716 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,180 | −32.0% |
| 25th | $89,670 | +16.8% |
| Median (50th) | $89,670 | +16.8% |
| 75th | $89,680 | +16.8% |
| 90th | $89,680 | +16.8% |
| Mean | $86,480 | +12.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $89,670 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$89,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,670US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $89,670 a year, 16.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $52,180 to $89,680 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Historians in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $89,670, or $43.11 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $76,750, so pay in Chicago, IL is 16.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $89,680 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $52,180 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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