Historians Salary
In Indiana, historians earn $63,770 at the median, or about $30.66 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $69,459 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 26.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Indiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $64K get you in Indiana?
About historians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Indiana
Pay for historians in Indiana runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,144/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level historians (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track historians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a historian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 26.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for historians in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new historians typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,599/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is historian a high-paying job in Indiana?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $64K here vs. $77K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for historians?
Indiana pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do historians make in Indiana?
The median is $63,770 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,320, and experienced historians can clear $125,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,275/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 26.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a historians salary go in Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median historians salary is worth about $69,459 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do historians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.