Historians in California
Considering working as a Historians in California? Below are the key facts. Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
What do Historians Make in California?
For a historians working in California, the typical annual salary is $83,360 per year (or about $40.08/hour).Annual wages span from $54,860 at the 10th percentile to $125,520 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $54,860 | $26.38 |
| 25th percentile | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Median (50th) | $83,360 | $40.08 |
| 75th percentile | $107,590 | $51.73 |
| 90th percentile | $125,520 | $60.35 |
The job concentration index in California relative to the national average — is 0.49, suggesting fewer historians per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, historians earn a median of $89,780 per year ($43.16/hour), below the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 67,367 historians nationwide. In California alone, about 180 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 60 historians.
Top California Metros for Historians
The metro areas below employ the most historians in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 40 | $83,360 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 40 | $94,590 |
Top States for Historians Employment
These states have the highest employment of historians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| New York | 420 |
| District of Columbia | 260 |
| California | 180 |
| Virginia | 180 |
| New Jersey | 90 |
| Utah | 90 |
| Mississippi | 90 |
| Florida | 80 |
| Michigan | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | 70 |
| Georgia | 70 |
| Texas | 70 |
| Hawaii | 60 |
| Oregon | 60 |
| Washington | 60 |
| Maryland | 60 |
| Alabama | 60 |
| South Carolina | 60 |
| Indiana | 50 |
| Connecticut | 50 |
Highest-Paying States for Historians
These states pay the most for historians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $117,960 |
| North Carolina | $101,440 |
| Maryland | $99,300 |
| Washington | $94,760 |
| Virginia | $94,060 |
| Illinois | $92,020 |
| Connecticut | $88,890 |
| Florida | $84,590 |
| Texas | $84,160 |
| Minnesota | $84,160 |
Skills
Key historians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for historians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, historians typically:
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
- Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
- Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
- Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
- Present historical accounts in terms of individuals or social, ethnic, political, economic, or geographic groupings.
- Research the history of a particular country or region, or of a specific time period.
- Conduct historical research, and publish or present findings and theories.
- Determine which topics to research, or pursue research topics specified by clients or employers.
- Recommend actions related to historical art, such as which items to add to a collection or which items to display in an exhibit.
- Research and prepare manuscripts in support of public programming and the development of exhibits at historic sites, museums, libraries, and archives.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Working with Computers
- Processing Information
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing Data or Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign In-demand technologies: ESRI ArcGIS software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- History
- Historic Preservation
- History and Language/Literature
- Classical & Ancient Studies
- Medieval Studies
- Maritime Studies
- History and Political Science
- Holocaust Studies
- Bioethics/Medical Ethics
- Architectural History
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to historians include:
- Sociologists
- Anthropologists and Archeologists
- Geographers
- Social Science Research Assistants
- Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
Also Known As
Architectural Historian, Art Historian, Collections Specialist, County Historian, Dance Historian, Dramatic Arts Historian, Field Court Researcher, Film Historian, Genealogist, Genealogist Researcher, Health Historian, Historian, Historian Developer, Historic Architectural Resources Curator, Historic Interpreter.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 19-3093.00
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