Historians Salary
In Montgomery, AL, historians earn $76,400 at the median, or about $36.73 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.68), which stretches that salary to about $85,192 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,016/month, or 20.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $76K get you in Montgomery?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Montgomery’s Regional Price Parity (89.68). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About historians
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What this looks like in Montgomery
Historians pay in Montgomery tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,016/month, 20.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.68 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for historians in metros near Montgomery, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $62K | $62K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montgomery, AL
Entry-level historians (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $73K spread from bottom to top.
Historians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Historians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $122K | +59% | N/A |
| Maryland | $121K | +57% | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $118K | +54% | 250 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +34% | 50 |
| Virginia | $102K | +33% | 180 |
| Washington | $100K | +30% | 30 |
| Oregon | $100K | +30% | 40 |
| California | $97K | +27% | 210 |
| Hawaii | $93K | +21% | 70 |
| Illinois | $90K | +17% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $81K | +5% | 60 |
| Nevada | $80K | +4% | N/A |
| Texas | $78K | +2% | 130 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +0% | 130 |
| Florida | $75K | -3% | 110 |
| North Carolina | $73K | -4% | 120 |
| Kansas | $73K | -5% | 40 |
| Alabama | $72K | -6% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $72K | -6% | 70 |
| Tennessee | $71K | -7% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $70K | -9% | 30 |
| New Mexico | $67K | -13% | 40 |
| Connecticut | $67K | -13% | 40 |
| Missouri | $64K | -16% | 50 |
| Georgia | $64K | -17% | 110 |
| Indiana | $64K | -17% | 30 |
| Kentucky | $64K | -17% | 50 |
| New York | $63K | -18% | 410 |
| Michigan | $63K | -18% | 80 |
| Ohio | $60K | -21% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $52K | -32% | 60 |
| Oklahoma | $51K | -34% | 50 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -40% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | -40% | 50 |
| Utah | $34K | -56% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track historians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montgomery numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a historian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montgomery?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,016/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for historians in Montgomery?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new historians typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,669/month. At HUD’s $1,016/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Montgomery?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Montgomery compare to the national average for historians?
Montgomery pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.68), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do historians make in Montgomery, AL?
The median is $76,400 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,480, and experienced historians can clear $117,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Montgomery?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,873/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,016/month, which eats 20.8% 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 Montgomery?
Montgomery has a Regional Price Parity of 89.68 (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 $85,192 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.