PublicPay

History federal salary series 0170

Full-time federal employees in the History series earned a median of $125,845 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 15% above the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $103,722 and $154,263.

Median pay
$125,845
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$103,722–$154,263
25th–75th percentile
Employees
657
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+1.8%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
History
All federal (full-time)

What shapes history pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-12 (186 employees, median $112,657). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of the Interior (115 employees). Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

OPM withheld pay for 65% of employees in this series. The figures here describe only employees with published pay; withholding is concentrated in certain agencies (see data coverage).

History pay by grade

Grades with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay. GS grades are listed first; other pay plans follow.

History pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-11 97 $89,478 $83,337–$97,026
GS-12 186 $112,657 $105,560–$119,546
GS-13 173 $138,197 $129,904–$150,203
GS-14 93 $167,902 $160,849–$178,696

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

History pay by agency

History pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of the Interior 115 $108,493 $92,801–$126,313
Department of State 40 $154,263 $141,426–$167,902

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

History pay by state

The 1 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

History pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
District of Columbia 99 $146,143 $126,313–$163,104

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +1.8% from $123,590 in September 2025 to $125,845 in September 2026. Headcount went from 735 to 657 (−10.6%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

Related occupations in Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare Group