Historians Salary
In Pennsylvania, historians earn $71,970 at the median, or about $34.6 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $75,782 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 28% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Pennsylvania?
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Historians pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level historians (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Historians salary by metro in Pennsylvania
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $81K | +13% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track historians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a historian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 28.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for historians in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new historians typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,321/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for historians?
Pennsylvania pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do historians make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $71,970 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,350, and experienced historians can clear $96,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,734/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 28.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $75,782 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.