How Much Does a Head Librarian Make? (2025)
A head librarian reports to the Dean of Instruction and is mostly responsible for strategic planning of the library. Additionally, they're responsible for managing the library's day-to-day operations like overall planning and may even manage the library's budget.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts a negative forecast for the role of head librarians, with a 2% faster than average job outlook. This correlates to Salary'com's data, which suggests that a Head Librarian's average yearly salary is $117,200.
Learn more about the salary trend for head librarians, top-paying cities in the US, and some FAQs about the occupation in this salary guide.
What is the Average Head Librarian's Salary?
As mentioned above, the salary of a Head Librarian is $117,200 per year. As of October 17, 2025, head librarian's salaries range from $100,006 to $144,901, with the majority earning between $108,200 and $131,700.
2025 Head Librarian salary: $117,200 ($56 per hour)
A head librarian's average monthly salary is $9,767, while the average weekly pay is $2,254. Meanwhile, the salary of a Head Librarian per hour is $56, according to the report.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $48 | $1,923 | $8,334 | $100,006 |
| 25th Percentile | $52 | $2,081 | $9,017 | $108,200 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $56 | $2,254 | $9,767 | $117,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $63 | $2,533 | $10,975 | $131,700 |
| 90th Percentile | $70 | $2,787 | $12,075 | $144,901 |
Head Librarian Salaries State by State
As shown in the table below, the three (3) states with the lowest average annual salary for head librarians in the United States are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas with $104,500, $105,500, and $105,900, respectively.
Meanwhile, the three (3) states with the highest average annual income for Head Librarians are the District of Columbia, California, and Massachusetts with $129,800, $129,300, and $127,500, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $107,700 |
| Alaska | $126,900 |
| Arizona | $114,200 |
| Arkansas | $105,900 |
| California | $129,300 |
| Colorado | $119,600 |
| Connecticut | $125,200 |
| Delaware | $118,700 |
| District of Columbia | $129,800 |
| Florida | $110,900 |
| Georgia | $113,000 |
| Hawaii | $122,500 |
| Idaho | $109,400 |
| Illinois | $119,500 |
| Indiana | $112,500 |
| Iowa | $112,200 |
| Kansas | $111,600 |
| Kentucky | $110,300 |
| Louisiana | $111,400 |
| Maine | $114,300 |
| Maryland | $120,800 |
| Massachusetts | $127,500 |
| Michigan | $115,400 |
| Minnesota | $119,900 |
| Mississippi | $104,500 |
| Missouri | $111,300 |
| Montana | $110,600 |
| Nebraska | $110,400 |
| Nevada | $116,000 |
| New Hampshire | $118,500 |
| New Jersey | $127,000 |
| New Mexico | $108,500 |
| New York | $124,600 |
| North Carolina | $111,400 |
| North Dakota | $115,800 |
| Ohio | $114,100 |
| Oklahoma | $108,400 |
| Oregon | $119,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,700 |
| Rhode Island | $121,500 |
| South Carolina | $109,800 |
| South Dakota | $106,500 |
| Tennessee | $109,500 |
| Texas | $114,300 |
| Utah | $112,200 |
| Vermont | $115,000 |
| Virginia | $118,000 |
| Washington | $127,100 |
| West Virginia | $105,500 |
| Wisconsin | $115,300 |
| Wyoming | $112,400 |
What are the Best-Paying Cities for Head Librarian?
Head librarians' salaries also vary by city due to differences in the standard of living, local demand for the occupation, and industry rates in metropolitan areas.
The table below shows that the labor industry in California offers higher average annual salaries for head librarians, specifically in cities like San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Certain cities such as New York, Queens Village, and Paramus also show signs of increased demand for the role and are considered as few of the highest paying cities for Head Librarians:
| City | Average Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $147,800 |
| San Francisco, CA | $146,400 |
| Oakland, CA | $143,100 |
| New York, NY | $135,800 |
| Queens Village, NY | $134,900 |
| Paramus, NJ | $134,000 |
How Does Experience Affect a Head Librarian's Salary?
Having more experience gives head librarians an advantage over their peers, along with having an important role in increasing their salaries.
Salary.com reports that an entry-level head librarian earns an average annual income of $113,693. Having 2 more years of experience can increase a head librarian's salary to $114,113.
After 2 to 4 years of experience, the salary of head librarians could increase to about $115,096. Specialist and expert-level head librarians can earn up to $116,218 and $117,645, respectively.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Head Librarian | $113,693 |
| Intermediate Level Head Librarian | $114,113 |
| Senior Level Head Librarian | $115,096 |
| Specialist Level Head Librarian | $116,218 |
| Expert Level Head Librarian | $117,645 |
How to Increase Salary as a Head Librarian?
Head librarians would need to have prior experience being a librarian first as well as ample management experience beforehand to be considered for the role. Additionally, they would also need to have a bachelor's degree.
Below are some common skills and advancements needed for a salary raise as a head librarian:
Head Librarian Advancements
- Education: As mentioned above, head librarians need to have a bachelor's degree in library and information science to be considered for the role of a librarian. That said, you can also apply to be a librarian if you have ample experience in a library. They would also need to be an ALA allied professional association-certified to be considered.
- Experience: To be a head librarian, you would need to have at least 10 or more years of library experience as a librarian. Additionally, you would also need to have gained some form of management experience as well as some basic accounting experience.
- Learn the needed skills: Some skills, like facilities management and security management, are required for the role of Head Librarian. Thus, learning the said skills can help aspiring Head Librarians to have a better understanding of their role.
Head Librarian Skills
Gaining sought-after skills for a head librarian is an effective way to earn a better salary and unlock more career opportunities.
The Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report indicates that the most in-demand head librarian skills are tableau and forecasting skills, which can increase salaries by 10.78% and 10.70%, respectively.
On the other hand, essential skills such as lead generation and tableau skills can also increase salaries for head librarians by 8.78% and 8.70%, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities Management | 10.00% | 7.92% |
| Security Management | 10.00% | 7.92% |
| Space Planning | 10.20% | 7.84% |
| Data Standards | 10.50% | 7.72% |
| Database Management | 10.00% | 7.46% |
| Data Management | 10.00% | 7.33% |
What are FAQs About Head Librarian Salaries?
Here are some common questions about or related to head librarians' salary:
What does the Head Librarian do?
A head librarian is mainly responsible for overseeing public libraries' day-to-day operations as well as managing its overall finances from time to time. They report mostly to the Dean of Instruction to ensure that every book is returned to the library promptly. specific requirements.
What skills should Head Librarians possess?
As mentioned above, an ideal candidate for the head librarian role should possess skills like data standards and programming language. However, having skills like facilities management and security management can help a Head Librarian earn more.
How much does a Head Librarian earn in the U.S.?
The average head librarian salary in the United States is $117,200 or $56 per hour in the United States, as of October 16, 2025. The highest median Head Librarian management salary can go up to $144,901 for those who belong in the 90th percentile.
