How much does a history professor make?
Answer: A typical history professor in the United States makes $83,820 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 19,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
History professor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,410 | $83,820 | $162,160 | about 19,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $127,170 | about 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $104,900 | about 780 |
| New York | $100,400 | about 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $99,900 | about 780 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,850 | about 960 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, advanced degrees, rank, and location. Four-year colleges and universities often pay differently from community colleges, and full-time or part-time work can also affect earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a history professor do?
Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What's a typical day like?
They prepare lessons, give lectures, and lead discussions about topics such as ancient or postwar history. They answer students’ questions, grade essays and exams, and may research history or write scholarly articles.
How to get this job
In the United States, study history in college, then usually earn a Ph.D.; four-year colleges typically expect a doctorate, while some community colleges accept a master’s degree. Graduate students may gain teaching experience as assistants.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out.
Did you know?
A history class might have just a few students—or several hundred, sometimes with graduate teaching assistants helping.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Educational Instruction and Library jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1125.00
- www.historians.org/resource/careers-for-students-of-history-historians-in-classr
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY