How Much Does a Librarian Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$68,270
Librarians in the U.S. earn a median of $68,270 a year, or $32.82 an hour. Half of librarians earn more than $68,270 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $103,990.
Pay percentiles for librarians
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.99 | $43,660 |
| 25th | $27.07 | $56,310 |
| 50th (median) | $32.82 | $68,270 |
| 75th | $40.62 | $84,480 |
| 90th | $50.00 | $103,990 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (SOC 25-4022). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for librarians
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $100,030 | $48.09 | +47% |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 | $46.42 | +41% |
| California | $89,790 | $43.17 | +32% |
| Maryland | $88,570 | $42.58 | +30% |
| Nevada | $84,540 | $40.64 | +24% |
| Connecticut | $79,210 | $38.08 | +16% |
| Alaska | $78,810 | $37.89 | +15% |
| New York | $78,590 | $37.79 | +15% |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 | $37.76 | +15% |
| New Jersey | $78,380 | $37.69 | +15% |
| United States | $68,270 | $32.82 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many librarians are there?
BLS counts about 133,790 librarians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Librarians and Media Collections Specialists”. The most jobs are in New York (11,870), California (10,180) and Texas (9,150).
The mean (average) annual wage is $72,840, higher than the median of $68,270.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,689
- Biweekly
- $2,626
- Weekly
- $1,313
- Daily (8 hours)
- $263
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do librarians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for librarians is $32.82. The middle 50% earn between $27.07 and $40.62 an hour.
Which state pays librarians the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for librarians at $100,030, +47% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for librarians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of librarians earn less than $43,660 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.