How much does a librarian and media collections specialist make?
The median librarian and media collections specialist in the United States earns $68,270 per year, about $32.82 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all librarians and media collections specialists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-4022.
Librarian and media collections specialist salary range
Pay for librarians and media collections specialists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $43,660 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $103,990. The average (mean) wage of $72,840 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,660 | $20.99 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $56,310 | $27.07 | |
| Median (50th) | $68,270 | $32.82 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $84,480 | $40.62 | |
| 90th percentile | $103,990 | $50.00 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for librarians and media collections specialists (SOC 25-4022), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Librarian and media collections specialist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Librarians and media collections specialists earn the most in Washington at $100,030 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $42,980. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $100,030 | 2,750 |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 | 960 |
| California | $89,790 | 10,180 |
| Maryland | $88,570 | 3,220 |
| Nevada | $84,540 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $79,210 | 2,550 |
| Alaska | $78,810 | 350 |
| New York | $78,590 | 11,870 |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 | 4,980 |
| New Jersey | $78,380 | 4,100 |
| Oregon | $78,070 | 1,690 |
| Delaware | $77,700 | 370 |
| Minnesota | $77,650 | 2,220 |
| Virginia | $77,430 | 4,590 |
| Georgia | $76,750 | 3,330 |
| Colorado | $76,480 | 1,990 |
| Rhode Island | $75,860 | 780 |
| Texas | $71,860 | 9,150 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 | 300 |
| Florida | $67,060 | 6,670 |
| Wisconsin | $66,870 | 2,450 |
| Kentucky | $65,200 | 1,980 |
| Alabama | $64,650 | 2,750 |
| Nebraska | $64,060 | 1,200 |
| Montana | $63,870 | 640 |
| New Hampshire | $63,580 | 1,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,880 | 5,050 |
| North Dakota | $62,830 | 570 |
| Illinois | $62,700 | 5,390 |
| South Carolina | $62,640 | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $62,530 | 580 |
| Vermont | $62,360 | 600 |
| Tennessee | $62,090 | 2,540 |
| Kansas | $61,900 | 1,620 |
| North Carolina | $61,420 | 4,010 |
| Louisiana | $60,650 | 2,130 |
| Ohio | $60,630 | 4,820 |
| Arizona | $60,500 | 1,990 |
| Michigan | $60,010 | 3,940 |
| Maine | $59,540 | 780 |
| Missouri | $58,700 | 2,970 |
| Iowa | $58,440 | 1,770 |
| Oklahoma | $58,180 | 1,820 |
| Mississippi | $56,970 | 1,060 |
| Arkansas | $56,800 | 1,490 |
| Idaho | $54,130 | 650 |
| Utah | $53,730 | 1,630 |
| Indiana | $53,500 | 1,920 |
| South Dakota | $51,210 | 490 |
| Wyoming | $46,530 | 440 |
| West Virginia | $42,980 | 610 |
State median wages for librarians and media collections specialists (SOC 25-4022), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for librarians and media collections specialists
The BLS projects employment of librarians and media collections specialists to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 142,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 145,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 12,600 openings a year for librarians and media collections specialists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a librarian and media collections specialist
The typical entry-level education for librarians and media collections specialists is a master's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a librarian and media collections specialist earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $100,030) and the lowest (West Virginia, $42,980) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 133,790 people work as librarians and media collections specialists in the United States. At $68,270 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Librarian and media collections specialist salary FAQ
How much does a librarian and media collections specialist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a librarian and media collections specialist is $32.82. The middle half of librarians and media collections specialists earn between $27.07 and $40.62 per hour.
What is the highest librarian and media collections specialist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of librarians and media collections specialists earn more than $103,990 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a librarian and media collections specialist make a year?
The median annual salary for a librarian and media collections specialist is $68,270. The average (mean) wage of $72,840 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a librarian and media collections specialist a well paid job?
At $68,270 a year, a librarian and media collections specialist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 133,790 people work as librarians and media collections specialists in the United States.
Which state pays librarians and media collections specialists the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for librarians and media collections specialists at $100,030 a year. District of Columbia ($96,550) and California ($89,790) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a librarian and media collections specialist a good career?
Employment of librarians and media collections specialists is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 12,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a librarian and media collections specialist?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for librarians and media collections specialists as a master's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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