Average Salary for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
SOC 25-4022 · Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in the United States is $64,320 ($30.92/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $38,920 at the 10th percentile to $100,880 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 131,830 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 8.1% since 2019.
Median Annual
$64,320
Mean Annual
$69,180
10th Pct
$38,920
75th Pct
$80,640
Employment
131,830
Salary Distribution
$39k
10th
$51k
25th
$64k
Median
$81k
75th
$101k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $101,900 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,810 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $99,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $99,370 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $98,820 |
| Bellingham, WA | $98,760 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $98,670 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98,660 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $97,910 |
| Modesto, CA | $94,450 |
| Yakima, WA | $93,990 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $91,020 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $90,410 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $89,080 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $85,670 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington | $94,400 |
| District of Columbia | $93,740 |
| California | $86,590 |
| Maryland | $81,690 |
| Nevada | $79,710 |
| New Jersey | $79,380 |
| Delaware | $78,300 |
| Alaska | $78,280 |
| New York | $77,080 |
| Connecticut | $76,380 |
| Massachusetts | $75,790 |
| Oregon | $75,360 |
| Minnesota | $75,260 |
| Virginia | $74,320 |
| Georgia | $73,500 |
| Rhode Island | $72,820 |
| Colorado | $64,980 |
| Texas | $64,910 |
| Wisconsin | $63,610 |
| Kentucky | $63,460 |
| Hawaii | $62,880 |
| Virgin Islands | $62,470 |
| Illinois | $62,360 |
| Alabama | $62,240 |
| Montana | $62,020 |
| Nebraska | $61,990 |
| North Dakota | $61,540 |
| New Hampshire | $61,350 |
| New Mexico | $60,560 |
| Vermont | $60,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,120 |
| South Carolina | $60,050 |
| Florida | $59,890 |
| North Carolina | $59,860 |
| Tennessee | $59,710 |
| Kansas | $59,580 |
| Michigan | $59,520 |
| Louisiana | $59,090 |
| Arizona | $58,760 |
| Ohio | $57,130 |
| Arkansas | $56,770 |
| Maine | $56,520 |
| Missouri | $53,600 |
| Oklahoma | $53,340 |
| Iowa | $52,780 |
| Mississippi | $50,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $49,800 |
| Utah | $49,760 |
| South Dakota | $49,290 |
| Indiana | $48,880 |
| West Virginia | $48,640 |
| Wyoming | $48,290 |
| Idaho | $46,570 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $105,810 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $105,810 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $88,730 |
| Legal Services | $88,190 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $85,920 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $85,530 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $79,460 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $79,460 |
| Educational Support Services | $78,330 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $76,980 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $76,800 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $76,580 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $76,580 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $76,450 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $74,760 |
| Manufacturing | $74,550 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $73,730 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $72,340 |
| Engineering Services | $71,830 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $71,830 |
| Hospitals | $71,140 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $71,100 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $70,940 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $70,600 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $70,600 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $70,600 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $70,420 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $69,180 |
| Educational Services | $68,550 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $67,280 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $67,220 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $67,150 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $66,470 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $66,470 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $66,260 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $65,880 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $65,180 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $64,860 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $64,250 |
| Educational Services | $63,540 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $62,420 |
| Office Administrative Services | $62,400 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $62,270 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $61,760 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $60,960 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $60,960 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $60,890 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $60,510 |
| Information | $59,990 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $59,810 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services | $59,810 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $59,490 |
| Television Broadcasting Stations | $59,430 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $59,000 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $59,000 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $56,670 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $56,670 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $56,130 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $55,120 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $54,080 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $53,300 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $51,930 |
| Junior Colleges | $50,490 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $50,460 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $50,020 |
| Social Assistance | $49,900 |
| Wholesale Trade | $49,850 |
| Religious Organizations | $49,440 |
| Finance and Insurance | $49,340 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $48,720 |
| Child Care Services | $48,450 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $48,410 |
| Retail Trade | $46,660 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $45,230 |
| Publishing Industries | $45,230 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $43,790 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $43,790 |
| Temporary Help Services | $42,620 |
| Employment Services | $42,100 |
| Specialized Design Services | $41,460 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $40,670 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $64,320 |
| 2023 | $64,370 |
| 2022 | $61,660 |
| 2021 | $61,190 |
| 2020 | $60,820 |
| 2019 | $59,500 |