Average Salary for Librarians
SOC 25-4021 · Education, Training, and Library Occupations · 2018 data
The median annual wage for Librarians in the United States is $59,050 ($28.39/hr), based on 2018 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $34,630 at the 10th percentile to $93,050 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 125,750 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 5.1% since 2014.
Median Annual
$59,050
Mean Annual
$61,530
10th Pct
$34,630
75th Pct
$74,740
Employment
125,750
Salary Distribution
$35k
10th
$46k
25th
$59k
Median
$75k
75th
$93k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $85,890 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84,260 |
| Fresno, CA | $82,750 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $82,720 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $80,780 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,010 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $78,970 |
| Anchorage, AK | $78,200 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $77,510 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $76,810 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $75,300 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $75,030 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $73,980 |
| Salinas, CA | $73,950 |
| Danbury, CT | $73,590 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $81,770 |
| California | $78,620 |
| Washington | $72,690 |
| Delaware | $71,810 |
| Alaska | $70,560 |
| Hawaii | $70,060 |
| Maryland | $69,900 |
| Nevada | $69,350 |
| Massachusetts | $68,310 |
| Rhode Island | $68,290 |
| Connecticut | $67,490 |
| New York | $64,620 |
| New Jersey | $64,320 |
| Minnesota | $63,680 |
| Virginia | $63,310 |
| Oregon | $62,680 |
| Georgia | $61,260 |
| Colorado | $60,370 |
| Texas | $59,730 |
| Kentucky | $58,560 |
| South Carolina | $56,790 |
| Alabama | $55,970 |
| Wisconsin | $55,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,770 |
| Wyoming | $55,510 |
| Guam | $55,500 |
| Illinois | $55,380 |
| Florida | $55,060 |
| North Dakota | $55,020 |
| New Hampshire | $54,550 |
| Tennessee | $53,920 |
| Arkansas | $53,810 |
| North Carolina | $53,650 |
| Nebraska | $53,380 |
| Ohio | $53,100 |
| Louisiana | $52,660 |
| Michigan | $50,430 |
| Montana | $50,160 |
| Maine | $49,920 |
| Missouri | $48,760 |
| Virgin Islands | $48,500 |
| New Mexico | $48,450 |
| Arizona | $48,110 |
| Mississippi | $46,580 |
| Kansas | $46,100 |
| Utah | $45,970 |
| Indiana | $45,150 |
| Iowa | $44,610 |
| Oklahoma | $43,610 |
| Vermont | $42,090 |
| West Virginia | $41,250 |
| Idaho | $39,130 |
| South Dakota | $38,650 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,870 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Librarians broken down by industry sector, 2018 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal government, including the US Postal Service | $87,200 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | $87,200 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $76,040 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $75,710 |
| Legal Services | $74,850 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $73,770 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $72,760 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $72,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $72,710 |
| Manufacturing | $71,700 |
| Engineering Services | $69,980 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $68,750 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $67,810 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $67,810 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $67,810 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $67,430 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $67,390 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $66,880 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $66,270 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $66,120 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) | $65,470 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $65,380 |
| Finance and Insurance | $65,180 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $64,990 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) | $64,750 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $64,640 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $64,230 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting | $63,610 |
| Educational Services | $63,600 |
| State government, including schools and hospitals | $62,860 |
| Educational Services | $61,710 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $61,000 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $60,780 |
| Cross-industry, private ownership only | $60,000 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $59,930 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $59,260 |
| Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospitals, and the US Postal Service | $58,790 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $58,340 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $58,220 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $58,020 |
| Local government, including schools and hospitals | $57,910 |
| Hospitals | $57,800 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $57,720 |
| Educational Support Services | $57,560 |
| Junior Colleges | $56,980 |
| Information | $56,970 |
| Other Information Services | $56,570 |
| Other Information Services | $56,570 |
| Social Assistance | $56,310 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $55,050 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $54,080 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding state and local schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OES Designation) | $54,080 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | $53,980 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | $53,980 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $53,940 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $53,700 |
| Religious Organizations | $53,360 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $53,060 |
| Offices of Physicians | $52,870 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $51,970 |
| Employment Services | $51,880 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $51,820 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $51,820 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $51,290 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $51,290 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $50,550 |
| Temporary Help Services | $50,480 |
| Wholesale Trade | $49,650 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $49,600 |
| Facilities Support Services | $49,590 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $47,640 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $47,640 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $47,330 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $46,550 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $45,240 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $45,000 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $43,920 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2018 | $59,050 |
| 2017 | $58,520 |
| 2016 | $57,680 |
| 2015 | $56,880 |
| 2014 | $56,170 |