Understanding the function of histone modifications across inducible genes in mammalian cells requires quantitative, comparative analysis of their fate during gene activation and identification of enzymes responsible. We produced high‐resolution comparative maps of the distribution and dynamics of H3K4me3, H3K36me3, H3K79me2 and H3K9ac across c‐fos and c‐jun upon gene induction in murine fibroblasts. In unstimulated cells, continuous turnover of H3K9 acetylation occurs on all K4‐trimethylated histone H3 tails; distribution of both modifications coincides across promoter and 5′ part of the coding region. In contrast, K36‐ and K79‐methylated H3 tails, which are not dynamically acetylated, are restricted to the coding regions of these genes. Upon stimulation, transcription‐dependent increases in H3K4 and H3K36 trimethylation are seen across coding regions, peaking at 5′ and 3′ ends, respectively. Addressing molecular mechanisms involved, we find that Huntingtin‐interacting protein HYPB/Setd2 is responsible for virtually all global and transcription‐dependent H3K36 trimethylation, but not H3K36‐mono‐ or dimethylation, in these cells. These studies reveal four distinct layers of histone modification across inducible mammalian genes and show that HYPB/Setd2 is responsible for H3K36 trimethylation throughout the mouse nucleus.