SOC 19-3093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Historians — Illinois
Illinois · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Historians in Illinois 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 Illinois is $89,670 per year, 16.8% above the national median of $76,750. Pay ranges from under $71,190 at the tenth percentile to more than $111,650 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $83,490 to $89,680.
Among the 35 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 10th by median wage. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $89,670. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 178th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $71,190 | −7.2% |
| 25th | $83,490 | +8.8% |
| Median (50th) | $89,670 | +16.8% |
| 75th | $89,680 | +16.8% |
| 90th | $111,650 | +45.5% |
| Mean | $90,280 | +17.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $89,670 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois 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 $71,190 to $111,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 10th of 35 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $89,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Historians in Illinois?
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 Illinois 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 Illinois earns more than $111,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $71,190 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $89,670 per year.
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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