Librarian and Media Collections Specialist Salary
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earn a median $68,270 a year nationally. Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
What librarians and media collections specialists do
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library’s media equipment.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 12,600
Employment of librarians and media collections specialists is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 12,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,189
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,233
- Medicare (1.45%)$990
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$56,858
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,660 | $20.99 | $37,261 |
| 25th percentile | $56,310 | $27.07 | $47,425 |
| Median (50th) | $68,270 | $32.82 | $56,858 |
| 75th percentile | $84,480 | $40.62 | $68,262 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,990 | $50.00 | $81,987 |
Best cities for librarians and media collections specialists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $95,480 | $70,853 | $65,072 | 3,630 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $97,510 | $71,322 | $62,802 | 3,270 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $77,330 | $60,858 | $59,342 | 2,430 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $74,340 | $61,128 | $59,296 | 2,550 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $79,450 | $60,971 | $56,316 | 3,660 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $81,670 | $62,472 | $55,499 | 10,690 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $66,250 | $52,277 | $50,463 | 3,740 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $97,510
- Washington, DC — $95,480
- New York, NY — $81,670
- Boston, MA — $79,450
- Philadelphia, PA — $77,330
- Dallas, TX — $74,340
- Chicago, IL — $66,250
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $100,030 | +6.0% | $79,201 | $64,440 – $129,690 | 2,750 |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 | +3.0% | $71,515 | $63,540 – $126,660 | 960 |
| California | $89,790 | +3.7% | $66,709 | $50,750 – $132,870 | 10,180 |
| Maryland | $88,570 | +8.4% | $67,296 | $57,380 – $123,910 | 3,220 |
| Nevada | $84,540 | +6.1% | $68,304 | $56,310 – $102,940 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $79,210 | +3.7% | $61,773 | $50,340 – $116,720 | 2,550 |
| Alaska | $78,810 | +0.7% | $64,273 | $48,760 – $98,530 | 350 |
| New York | $78,590 | +2.0% | $60,471 | $52,340 – $129,970 | 11,870 |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 | +3.6% | $60,376 | $50,260 – $109,060 | 4,980 |
| New Jersey | $78,380 | −1.3% | $61,167 | $56,320 – $107,050 | 4,100 |
| Oregon | $78,070 | +3.6% | $57,751 | $43,740 – $116,250 | 1,690 |
| Delaware | $77,700 | −0.8% | $59,705 | $56,940 – $102,160 | 370 |
| Minnesota | $77,650 | +3.2% | $59,700 | $48,040 – $99,990 | 2,220 |
| Virginia | $77,430 | +4.2% | $59,664 | $48,510 – $107,600 | 4,590 |
| Georgia | $76,750 | +4.4% | $59,463 | $48,500 – $101,730 | 3,330 |
| Colorado | $76,480 | +17.7% | $59,977 | $51,200 – $101,280 | 1,990 |
| Rhode Island | $75,860 | +4.2% | $59,970 | $50,040 – $100,990 | 780 |
| Texas | $71,860 | +10.7% | $59,384 | $49,240 – $100,790 | 9,150 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 | +8.6% | $53,200 | $51,280 – $97,760 | 300 |
| Florida | $67,060 | +12.0% | $56,007 | $49,320 – $92,240 | 6,670 |
| Wisconsin | $66,870 | +5.1% | $53,709 | $46,350 – $85,970 | 2,450 |
| Kentucky | $65,200 | +2.7% | $52,404 | $45,950 – $85,190 | 1,980 |
| Alabama | $64,650 | +3.9% | $51,159 | $37,890 – $78,310 | 2,750 |
| Nebraska | $64,060 | +3.3% | $51,617 | $33,820 – $92,860 | 1,200 |
| Montana | $63,870 | +3.0% | $51,252 | $40,750 – $84,440 | 640 |
| New Hampshire | $63,580 | +3.6% | $53,267 | $40,560 – $94,300 | 1,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,880 | +4.6% | $50,774 | $37,240 – $98,490 | 5,050 |
| North Dakota | $62,830 | +2.1% | $52,664 | $36,400 – $98,000 | 570 |
| Illinois | $62,700 | +0.5% | $49,601 | $38,650 – $103,540 | 5,390 |
| South Carolina | $62,640 | +4.3% | $49,910 | $36,490 – $92,890 | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $62,530 | +3.3% | $50,650 | $41,600 – $97,490 | 580 |
| Vermont | $62,360 | +3.5% | $50,631 | $36,390 – $86,070 | 600 |
| Tennessee | $62,090 | +4.0% | $52,069 | $36,860 – $80,140 | 2,540 |
| Kansas | $61,900 | +3.9% | $49,262 | $34,780 – $80,570 | 1,620 |
| North Carolina | $61,420 | +2.6% | $49,589 | $44,600 – $83,650 | 4,010 |
| Louisiana | $60,650 | +2.6% | $49,479 | $46,800 – $78,240 | 2,130 |
| Ohio | $60,630 | +6.1% | $50,011 | $39,710 – $92,900 | 4,820 |
| Arizona | $60,500 | +3.0% | $49,488 | $35,730 – $96,490 | 1,990 |
| Michigan | $60,010 | +0.8% | $48,098 | $39,450 – $89,750 | 3,940 |
| Maine | $59,540 | +5.3% | $47,183 | $36,580 – $83,640 | 780 |
| Missouri | $58,700 | +9.5% | $47,524 | $34,510 – $86,850 | 2,970 |
| Iowa | $58,440 | +10.7% | $47,568 | $31,620 – $86,600 | 1,770 |
| Oklahoma | $58,180 | +9.1% | $46,855 | $32,350 – $82,650 | 1,820 |
| Mississippi | $56,970 | +13.2% | $46,409 | $29,340 – $68,970 | 1,060 |
| Arkansas | $56,800 | +0.1% | $45,816 | $31,640 – $73,210 | 1,490 |
| Idaho | $54,130 | +16.2% | $43,913 | $35,940 – $90,950 | 650 |
| Utah | $53,730 | +8.0% | $43,900 | $35,810 – $99,890 | 1,630 |
| Indiana | $53,500 | +9.5% | $43,619 | $32,520 – $79,300 | 1,920 |
| South Dakota | $51,210 | +3.9% | $43,327 | $37,760 – $77,500 | 490 |
| Wyoming | $46,530 | −3.6% | $39,567 | $27,990 – $74,290 | 440 |
| West Virginia | $42,980 | −11.6% | $35,505 | $29,910 – $63,130 | 610 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist | $64,550 | Master's degree | +3.4% |
| Curator | $63,420 | Master's degree | +4.9% |
| Museum Technician and Conservator | $51,440 | Bachelor's degree | +3.6% |
| Library Technician | $44,580 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -6.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $66,810 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $66,270 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $66,140 | Bachelor's degree | -0.2% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $65,120 | Bachelor's degree | -0.4% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | $65,030 | Bachelor's degree | -0.5% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $64,830 | Bachelor's degree | +2.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a librarian and media collections specialist make?
The national median salary for librarians and media collections specialists is $68,270 a year ($32.82 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $43,660 and the top 10% earn over $103,990. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays librarians and media collections specialists the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $100,030. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many librarians and media collections specialists are there in the U.S.?
About 133,790 people work as librarians and media collections specialists nationwide.