A Librarian's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Librarian Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Librarian's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Librarian (2-4 years): $68,665
Senior Librarian (4-7 years): $86,149
Library Services Supervisor (7+ years): $88,581
Library Services Manager (7+ years): $102,781
Chief Librarian (7+ years): $117,183
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Librarian
2-4 years
$68,665
Senior Librarian
4-7 years
$86,149
Library Services Supervisor
7+ years
$88,581
Library Services Manager
7+ years
$102,781
Chief Librarian
7+ years
$117,183
$68,665Librarian...
$86,149Senior Li...
$88,581Library S...
$102,781Library S...
$117,183Chief Lib...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Librarian Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Librarians.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $86,607
San Francisco: $85,659
Oakland: $83,854
San Jose, CA$86,607
San Francisco, CA$85,659
Oakland, CA$83,854
New York, NY$79,060
Paramus, NJ$78,099
Queens Village, NY$78,095
Passaic, NJ$78,030
Bergenfield, NJ$78,024
Stamford, CT$77,873
Huntington, NY$77,845
Newark, NJ$77,337
Bridgeport, CT$77,193
Vallejo, CA$77,056
New Brunswick, NJ$77,028
Petaluma, CA$76,987
Middlesex, NJ$76,857
Somerset, NJ$76,809
Santa Cruz, CA$76,719
Boston, MA$76,301
Monterey, CA$76,060
Seattle, WA$75,902
Santa Rosa, CA$75,889
Los Angeles, CA$75,868
Juneau, AK$75,689
Washington, DC$75,614
Orange, CA$75,369
Santa Ana, CA$75,188
Long Beach, CA$75,120
Anaheim, CA$75,106
Anchorage, AK$75,071
Santa Maria, CA$74,865
Everett, WA$74,852
Danbury, CT$74,610
Bremerton, WA$74,515
Tacoma, WA$74,268
New Suffolk, NY$74,267
Sacramento, CA$74,247
Santa Barbara, CA$74,172
Trenton, NJ$74,096
San Diego, CA$74,096
Brockton, MA$74,021
Fairbanks, AK$73,853
Lompoc, CA$73,678
Lowell, MA$73,622
Ventura, CA$73,609
Nashua, NH$73,595
Stockton, CA$73,588
Modesto, CA$73,087
Poughkeepsie, NY$72,936
Olympia, WA$72,805
Kennewick, WA$72,805
New Haven, CT$72,778
Lawrence, MA$72,531
Hartford, CT$72,462
Riverside, CA$72,448
New Bedford, MA$72,380
Richland, WA$72,380
Bakersfield, CA$72,284
San Bernardino, CA$72,256
New Britain, CT$72,249
Atlantic City, NJ$72,249
New London, CT$72,222
Norwich, CT$72,201
Portsmouth, NH$72,188
Boulder, CO$72,042
Portland, OR$71,947
Worcester, MA$71,940
Minneapolis, MN$71,727
Philadelphia, PA$71,631
Honolulu, HI$71,405
Saint Paul, MN$71,372
Vineland, NJ$71,357
Providence, RI$71,158
Chicago, IL$70,958
Bellingham, WA$70,876
Springfield, MA$70,821
Baltimore, MD$70,800
Chico, CA$70,629
Pittsfield, MA$70,443
Manchester, NH$70,313
Spokane, WA$70,011
Denver, CO$70,004
Albany, NY$69,681
Troy, NY$69,654
Nassau, NY$69,580
Schenectady, NY$69,510
Wilmington, DE$69,455
Burlington, VT$69,359
Salem, OR$69,331
Portland, ME$69,118
Yakima, WA$69,050
Rochester, MN$68,837
Reno, NV$68,802
Fresno, CA$68,802
Milwaukee, WI$68,741
Detroit, MI$68,672
Ann Arbor, MI$68,660
Allentown, PA$68,651
Colorado Springs, CO$68,535
Syracuse, NY$68,500
Carson City, NV$68,500
Houston, TX$68,404
Eugene, OR$68,370
Gary, IN$68,287
Springfield, OR$68,232
Bismarck, ND$68,219
Galveston, TX$68,171
Medford, OR$68,068
Fort Collins, CO$68,040
Concord, NH$68,006
Austin, TX$67,985
Mesa, AZ$67,841
Reading, PA$67,834
Phoenix, AZ$67,827
Dallas, TX$67,807
Saint Cloud, MN$67,741
Madison, WI$67,649
Utica, NY$67,463
Rochester, NY$67,353
Des Moines, IA$67,347
Raleigh, NC$67,340
Atlanta, GA$67,237
Battle Creek, MI$67,216
Salt Lake City, UT$67,196
Lancaster, PA$67,093
Harrisburg, PA$66,996
Kansas City, MO$66,928
Champaign, IL$66,914
Kansas City, KS$66,914
Fort Worth, TX$66,907
Columbus, OH$66,896
Boca Raton, FL$66,880
Pittsburgh, PA$66,852
Richmond, VA$66,825
Indianapolis, IN$66,811
Cleveland, OH$66,804
Las Vegas, NV$66,722
Cincinnati, OH$66,722
Petersburg, VA$66,619
Huntsville, AL$66,516
Lansing, MI$66,470
Lebanon, PA$66,461
Pueblo, CO$66,454
Appleton, WI$66,433
Buffalo, NY$66,406
Dayton, OH$66,385
Racine, WI$66,372
Charlotte, NC$66,365
Saint Louis, MO$66,344
York, PA$66,303
Elkhart, IN$66,303
Gastonia, NC$66,290
Billings, MT$66,273
Beaumont, TX$66,255
Lorain, OH$66,241
Benton Harbor, MI$66,227
Toledo, OH$66,214
Binghamton, NY$66,179
Rock Hill, SC$66,172
Rockford, IL$66,138
Springfield, IL$66,111
Elyria, OH$66,104
Fargo, ND$66,104
Flagstaff, AZ$66,056
Fort Lauderdale, FL$66,015
Duluth, MN$65,973
Miami, FL$65,973
Cheyenne, WY$65,925
Grand Forks, ND$65,925
Bangor, ME$65,774
Cedar Rapids, IA$65,699
Durham, NC$65,670
Louisville, KY$65,664
Grand Rapids, MI$65,651
Hialeah, FL$65,644
Casper, WY$65,548
Scranton, PA$65,465
New Orleans, LA$65,445
Virginia Beach, VA$65,438
Akron, OH$65,403
Peoria, IL$65,314
Sarasota, FL$65,300
Nashville, TN$65,252
Omaha, NE$65,252
Green Bay, WI$65,252
Baton Rouge, LA$65,218
Charleston, SC$65,204
Jamestown, NY$65,170
Davenport, IA$65,170
Tucson, AZ$65,136
Saint Petersburg, FL$65,094
Tampa, FL$65,081
Evansville, IN$65,039
Port Arthur, TX$65,039
Bradenton, FL$65,012
Santa Fe, NM$64,888
Orlando, FL$64,765
Clearwater, FL$64,744
Canton, OH$64,600
La Crosse, WI$64,600
Albuquerque, NM$64,559
Newport News, VA$64,552
High Point, NC$64,531
Ogden, UT$64,504
Corpus Christi, TX$64,449
Norfolk, VA$64,408
Laramie, WY$64,408
Rock Island, IL$64,367
Saginaw, MI$64,353
Jacksonville, FL$64,346
Salisbury, NC$64,332
Boise, ID$64,319
Moline, IL$64,284
Fort Myers, FL$64,264
Memphis, TN$64,250
Tulsa, OK$64,216
Waterloo, IA$64,174
Spartanburg, SC$64,106
Lincoln, NE$64,071
Fort Wayne, IN$64,058
Provo, UT$64,051
Cedar Falls, IA$63,968
San Antonio, TX$63,941
Greensboro, NC$63,913
South Bend, IN$63,907
Savannah, GA$63,831
Muskegon, MI$63,804
Birmingham, AL$63,797
Winston Salem, NC$63,763
Lake Charles, LA$63,598
Anderson, IN$63,584
Lexington, KY$63,563
Augusta, GA$63,543
Greenville, SC$63,543
Lima, OH$63,488
Wichita, KS$63,481
Tuscaloosa, AL$63,481
Columbia, SC$63,419
Springfield, OH$63,405
Asheville, NC$63,295
Bloomington, IN$63,247
Knoxville, TN$63,000
Shreveport, LA$62,993
Wilmington, NC$62,904
Roanoke, VA$62,904
Topeka, KS$62,780
Frankfort, KY$62,773
Oklahoma City, OK$62,725
Chillicothe, OH$62,698
Longview, TX$62,691
Melbourne, FL$62,684
Sioux Falls, SD$62,574
Mobile, AL$62,568
Terre Haute, IN$62,540
Altoona, PA$62,499
Amarillo, TX$62,451
Killeen, TX$62,430
Fayetteville, AR$62,375
Chattanooga, TN$62,355
Sioux City, IA$62,293
Idaho Falls, ID$62,279
Lynchburg, VA$62,224
Gainesville, FL$62,135
Portsmouth, OH$62,101
Little Rock, AR$62,087
Lafayette, LA$62,059
Youngstown, OH$62,059
Daytona Beach, FL$62,018
Clarksville, TN$62,011
Pensacola, FL$62,004
Temple, TX$62,000
Hopkinsville, KY$61,799
Erie, PA$61,785
Florence, SC$61,757
Charleston, WV$61,647
Great Falls, MT$61,613
Macon, GA$61,517
Tallahassee, FL$61,510
Fayetteville, NC$61,496
Waco, TX$61,483
Helena, MT$61,435
Pine Bluff, AR$61,408
Vincennes, IN$61,325
Lubbock, TX$61,297
Alamogordo, NM$61,256
Twin Falls, ID$61,194
Rapid City, SD$61,174
Jackson, MS$61,050
Huntington, WV$61,045
Greenville, MS$61,043
Parkersburg, WV$60,973
Montgomery, AL$60,961
Wichita Falls, TX$60,892
Springfield, MO$60,892
Biloxi, MS$60,858
Monroe, LA$60,789
Johnstown, PA$60,741
Sumter, SC$60,714
Columbus, GA$60,707
Pascagoula, MS$60,576
Abilene, TX$60,576
Kingsport, TN$60,398
Albany, GA$60,398
Gulfport, MS$60,377
Alexandria, LA$60,151
Fort Smith, AR$59,979
El Paso, TX$59,793
Las Cruces, NM$59,484
Harlingen, TX$59,310
Pocatello, ID$59,299
Florence, AL$59,210
Brownsville, TX$59,196
Mcallen, TX$59,052
Dothan, AL$58,956
Columbus, MS$58,548
Altus, OK$58,228
Lawton, OK$58,097
Pierre, SD$57,850
What Skills Can Increase a Librarian's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.31% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Information Sciences (Mentioned in 4.27% Job Postings): Information science is an academic field which is primarily concerned with analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval, movement, dissemination, and protection of information.
Collection Management (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): It involves the development, storage, and preservation of cultural property, as well as objects of contemporary culture (including contemporary art, literature, technology, and documents) in museums, libraries, archives and private collections
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
10.31%
Information Sciences
4.27%
Collection Management
1.35%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Librarian's salary.
Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Time Management
$73,472
7%
Leadership
$71,412
4%
Project Management
$71,412
4%
Presentation
$70,725
3%
Problem Solving
$70,725
3%
Analysis
$70,725
3%
Get Latest Data
Librarian Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Librarian salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $76,801.
While startup companies pay approximate $64,951.
Librarian Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$64,951
Growth Stage
51~500
$68,696
Established
501~5000
$74,166
Enterprise
5000+
$76,801
Librarian Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Librarian roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average.
In contrast, Librarian positions in Business Services or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Librarian as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Librarian
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$96,131
$46.0
40%
Biotechnology
$89,264
$43.0
30%
Insurance
$85,831
$41.0
25%
Aerospace & Defense
$82,398
$40.0
20%
Software & Networking
$82,398
$40.0
20%
How Education impacts a Librarian's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Librarians enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Librarian with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$68,285
and $73,903).
Librarian Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Librarian
No Diploma0.8%
High School3.6%
Associates2.4%
Bachelors15.6%
Masters74.5%
Doctorate2.8%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.8%
High School
3.6%
Associates
2.4%
Bachelors
15.6%
Masters
74.5%
Doctorate
2.8%
view as graph
Librarian Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Librarian's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$60,716
Average$68,665/year
$75,798
$5,060
Average$5,722/month
$6,317
$1,168
Average$1,320/week
$1,458
$29
Average$33/hour
$36
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$75,798
$6,317
$1,458
$36
Average
$68,665
$5,722
$1,320
$33
25th Percentile
$60,716
$5,060
$1,168
$29
Librarian Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Librarian, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Salaries for a Librarian can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $61,960 in 2023
to around $61,185 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Librarian salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Librarian Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$61,960
2024
$61,643
2025
$61,185
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$61,960
2024
$61,643
2025
$61,185
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Librarian
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Librarian
Here are companies hiring for Librarian and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Librarian
1. Where can a Librarian earn the most?
A Librarian's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Librarian earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Librarian is $86,607.
2. What is the highest pay for Librarian?
The highest pay for Librarian is $82,292.
3. What is the lowest pay for Librarian?
The lowest pay for Librarian is $53,479.
4. What are the responsibilities of Librarian?
Develops and maintains a collection of books and other materials and provides research and reference support to library users. Researches publications and suggests new sources and offerings for acquisition to enhance the collection. Performs cataloging and creates bibliographies and metadata to classify the library's collection of books, serial publications, documents, audiovisual, and other materials. Designs and delivers research support processes and services to ensure that groups and individuals can access requested materials. Distributes up-to-date information on new acquisitions, library activities, and services. Oversees the selection and maintenance of technology infrastructure and tools used in the library. Requires a master's degree in library science. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2 -4 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Librarian?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Librarian roles,
with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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