Historians Salary
In Virginia, historians earn $101,920 at the median, or about $49 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $107,522 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $102K get you in Virginia?
About historians
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for historians, local pay runs about 33% higher than the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level historians (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $161K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track historians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a historian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for historians in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new historians typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,941/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Virginia?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $102K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for historians?
Virginia pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do historians make in Virginia?
The median is $101,920 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,680, and experienced historians can clear $161,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,229/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 26.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $107,522 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.