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Art Historian Salary in the United States

How much does an Art Historian make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Art Historian in the United States is $48,341 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, an Art Historian's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $57,806
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,022 to $53,295
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,090
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Art Historian Salaries

An Art Historian's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Art Historian Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Art Historian's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $48,221
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $49,655
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,047
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $53,544
  • Expert (over 8 years): $53,792
Levels Salary
Entry Level Art Historian$48,221
Intermediate Level Art Historian$49,655
Senior Level Art Historian$53,047
Specialist Level Art Historian$53,544
Expert Level Art Historian$53,792
View as Graph

How Do Art Historian Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Art Historians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $53,523.
  • California: $53,320.
  • Massachusetts: $52,610.

Top Paying Cities for Art Historians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $60,973
  • San Francisco: $60,305
  • Oakland: $59,034

What Skills Can Increase an Art Historian's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Confidentiality (Mentioned in 6.72% Job Postings): The process of and obligation to apply and enforce rules and practices that ensure that specific types of information are accessible only to those authorized to use it.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 5.12% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.31% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
Skills Demand Percentage
Confidentiality 6.72%
Patient Care 5.12%
Data Entry 2.31%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Art Historian's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $64,777
34%
Alignment $64,294
33%
Problem Solving $61,393
27%
Get Latest Data

Art Historian Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Art Historian roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Art Historian positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Art Historian as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Art Historian

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$72,512$35.050%
Business Services$58,009$28.020%

How Education impacts an Art Historian's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Art Historians enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Art Historian with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $50,307 and $53,524).

Art Historian Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Art Historian
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 59.2%
Associates 25.8%
Bachelors 12.4%
Masters 1.3%
Doctorate 0.4%
View as Graph

Art Historian Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Art Historian's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$44,022
Average $48,341/year
$53,295
$3,669
Average $4,028/month
$4,441
$847
Average $930/week
$1,025
$21
Average $23/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $53,295 $4,441 $1,025 $26
Average $48,341 $4,028 $930 $23
25th Percentile $44,022 $3,669 $847 $21

Most common benefits for Art Historian

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Art Historian

Here are companies hiring for Art Historian and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Art Historian

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Art Historian?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Art Historian roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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