How much does a library technician make?
The median library technician in the United States earns $44,580 per year, about $21.43 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all library technicians earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-4031.
Library technician salary range
Pay for library technicians spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $29,300 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $63,080. The average (mean) wage of $45,500 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 | $29,300 | $14.09 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,740 | $17.18 | |
| Median (50th) | $44,580 | $21.43 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $52,430 | $25.21 | |
| 90th percentile | $63,080 | $30.33 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for library technicians (SOC 25-4031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Library technician salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Library technicians earn the most in Washington at $62,570 a year, and the least in Wyoming at $26,850. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $62,570 | 1,850 |
| District of Columbia | $61,040 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $57,060 | 930 |
| California | $53,260 | 7,190 |
| Minnesota | $51,110 | 1,180 |
| Hawaii | $50,870 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $50,430 | 1,910 |
| Vermont | $50,090 | 150 |
| New York | $50,060 | 3,390 |
| Oregon | $49,970 | 1,810 |
| Maryland | $48,920 | 1,980 |
| New Jersey | $48,840 | 1,060 |
| Rhode Island | $48,740 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $48,650 | 280 |
| Delaware | $47,580 | 210 |
| Illinois | $47,120 | 2,140 |
| Alaska | $46,940 | 220 |
| Colorado | $46,680 | 2,250 |
| North Carolina | $46,520 | 2,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,100 | 1,560 |
| Nevada | $45,650 | 410 |
| Virginia | $45,560 | 2,580 |
| Maine | $44,520 | 320 |
| Kansas | $41,960 | 480 |
| Florida | $41,080 | 3,070 |
| Arizona | $40,510 | 820 |
| Utah | $40,160 | 310 |
| North Dakota | $39,240 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $39,180 | 1,410 |
| Missouri | $39,160 | 1,360 |
| New Mexico | $38,830 | 540 |
| Texas | $38,640 | 5,180 |
| Iowa | $38,590 | 1,510 |
| Montana | $38,220 | 370 |
| Ohio | $37,920 | 4,020 |
| Georgia | $37,320 | 2,130 |
| Alabama | $37,150 | 390 |
| Nebraska | $36,920 | 710 |
| Tennessee | $36,400 | 390 |
| South Carolina | $36,070 | 650 |
| Kentucky | $35,700 | 670 |
| Indiana | $35,560 | 1,470 |
| Wisconsin | $35,000 | 2,890 |
| Michigan | $34,680 | 2,180 |
| Idaho | $34,510 | 520 |
| West Virginia | $30,300 | 280 |
| South Dakota | $29,590 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $29,440 | 830 |
| Arkansas | $28,570 | 390 |
| Mississippi | $27,080 | 270 |
| Wyoming | $26,850 | 400 |
State median wages for library technicians (SOC 25-4031), 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 library technicians
The BLS projects employment of library technicians to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 6.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 72,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 68,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 10,800 openings a year for library technicians. 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 library technician
The typical entry-level education for library technicians is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a library technician 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, $62,570) and the lowest (Wyoming, $26,850) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 68,690 people work as library technicians in the United States. At $44,580 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Library technician salary FAQ
How much does a library technician make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a library technician is $21.43. The middle half of library technicians earn between $17.18 and $25.21 per hour.
What is the highest library technician salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of library technicians earn more than $63,080 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a library technician make a year?
The median annual salary for a library technician is $44,580. The average (mean) wage of $45,500 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 library technician a well paid job?
At $44,580 a year, a library technician earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 68,690 people work as library technicians in the United States.
Which state pays library technicians the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for library technicians at $62,570 a year. District of Columbia ($61,040) and Connecticut ($57,060) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a library technician a good career?
Employment of library technicians is projected to shrink 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 10,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a library technician?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for library technicians as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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