How Much Does a Librarian Make in 2025?
A librarian manages and sustains an array of books and other library resources while assisting individuals with research and reference inquiries. They investigate publications, suggest new sources for procurement, and execute cataloging, bibliographies, and metadata development to systematically arrange the library materials within the library.
To meet requirements, librarians often need to create systems that are easy to access, maintain, and implement consistently across different branches. Some academic librarians, public librarians, school librarians, and law librarians also provide book reviews and organize events to support students, faculty, teachers, and the wider community.
This allows the organization to reach a wider audience and provide additional resources that benefit a variety of learners. Based on BLS, jobs for librarians are expected to grow by 2% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than the average growth rate for other professions.
In most states, employment in public libraries, universities, and schools remains steady, though factors like funding, technology, and programs affect future growth. The wage of librarians may fluctuate depending on experience, sector, geographic area, certification, and other significant aspects, which will be discussed later in this salary guide.
What Is the Average Librarian Salary?
The average librarian salary in the United States is $86,200 per year, as of September 15, 2025. For the hourly pay, the librarian salary has an average salary of $41 per hour, with rates ranging from $40 to $44 per hour.
2025 Librarian Average Salary: $86,200 per year ($41 per hour)
Meanwhile, the average weekly and monthly salaries for librarians are $1,658 and $7,183, respectively.
What is the Pay Range for a Librarian?
According to a recent Salary.com report, the salary range for a librarian starts at $79,322 and can reach as high as $95,943 per year, with most librarians earning between $82,600 and $91,300 per year.
This range accounts for variations in hourly rates and overall compensation. Some salaries are based on education, a bachelor's degree in library science is typically required, though a master's degree is often expected for advancement, especially for leadership roles. Librarians must also handle file systems and information databases to stay current with general standards across the profession.
Librarian Salary Range: $79,322 to $95,943 per year ($38 to $46 per hour)
| Percentile | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $38 | $1,525 | $6,610 | $79,322 |
| 25th Percentile | $40 | $1,588 | $6,883 | $82,600 |
| 50th (Median) | $41 | $1,658 | $7,183 | $86,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $44 | $1,756 | $7,608 | $91,300 |
| 90th Percentile | $46 | $1,845 | $7,995 | $95,943 |
However, as mentioned earlier, the salary range for librarian can vary based on factors like education, experience, and location.
Librarian Salary Factors
Several factors affect a librarian's salary, including education, location, experience, and skills. Below, we break down each factor to explain how it influences earnings. As mentioned earlier, the salary range for librarian can vary depending on jobs available in the field, the state, where pay levels differ across regions.
Years of Experience
The average salary for a librarian, based on years of experience, ranges from $84,543 per year for entry-level to $88,812 per year for librarians with over eight years of experience. This shows how work history and training result in higher earning potential.
| Level | Years of Experience | Average Salary (Per Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Librarian | < 1 year | $84,543 |
| Intermediate Level Librarian | 1-2 years | $84,819 |
| Senior Level Librarian | 2-4 years | $85,372 |
| Specialist Level Librarian | 5-8 years | $87,096 |
| Expert Level Librarian | 8+ years | $88,812 |
Place of Work
BLS reported that the specific workplace significantly influences the salary for librarians. For instance, a librarian working in elementary and secondary schools can earn as much as $69,880 in 2024. While those working in colleges, universities, and professional schools, state and private can earn as much as $68,570 and $66,260, respectively.
| Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | $69,880 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | $68,570 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private | $66,260 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | $60,510 |
| Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services | $59,810 |
Based on the data, librarians in elementary and secondary schools, local earn the most, while those working for web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services earn less. Salaries vary depending on the industry, with opportunities in rural areas potentially lower but offering a different work environment.
Skill Set
A librarian with in-demand skills can increase their salaries. Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report showed that a librarian with customer satisfaction skills can earn 8.20% more than those without. Followed by those with customer support skills which can earn 8.05% more.
According to the same report, a librarian with computer literacy skills is more likely to experience a salary increase of 7.80%, followed by skills like content management system and presentation software.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Satisfaction | 10.00% | 8.20% |
| Customer Support | 10.00% | 8.05% |
| Computer Literacy | 10.00% | 7.80% |
| Content Management System | 10.90% | 7.64% |
| Presentation Software | 10.60% | 7.36% |
| Metadata Standards | 10.60% | 7.34% |
Librarian Salary by City and State
The location where a librarian works can affect their salary. This information is useful for tracking salary trends, negotiating pay, or planning a career in the field.
Highest Paying States for Librarian
Based on Salary.com pay data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average salary for librarian in the United States, at $95,400 per year, followed by California at $95,100.
- District of Columbia: $95,400 ($46 per hour)
- California: $95,100 ($46 per hour)
- Massachusetts: $93,800 ($45 per hour)
- Washington: $93,400 ($45 per hour)
- New Jersey: $93,400 ($45 per hour)
- Alabama: $93,300 ($45 per hour)
Librarian Salary by State/Territory
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $93,300 |
| Alaska | $79,200 |
| Arizona | $77,900 |
| Arkansas | $84,000 |
| California | $95,100 |
| Colorado | $87,900 |
| Connecticut | $92,100 |
| District of Columbia | $95,400 |
| Delaware | $87,300 |
| Florida | $81,500 |
| Georgia | $83,100 |
| Hawaii | $90,100 |
| Iowa | $82,500 |
| Idaho | $80,500 |
| Illinois | $87,800 |
| Indiana | $82,700 |
| Kansas | $82,100 |
| Kentucky | $81,100 |
| Louisiana | $81,900 |
| Massachusetts | $93,800 |
| Maryland | $88,900 |
| Maine | $84,000 |
| Michigan | $84,900 |
| Minnesota | $88,200 |
| Missouri | $81,900 |
| Mississippi | $76,900 |
| Montana | $81,400 |
| North Carolina | $81,900 |
| North Dakota | $85,100 |
| Nebraska | $81,200 |
| New Hampshire | $87,100 |
| New Jersey | $93,400 |
| New Mexico | $79,800 |
| Nevada | $85,300 |
| New York | $91,600 |
| Ohio | $83,900 |
| Oklahoma | $79,700 |
| Oregon | $87,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,800 |
| Rhode Island | $89,400 |
| South Carolina | $80,800 |
| South Dakota | $78,300 |
| Tennessee | $80,500 |
| Texas | $84,100 |
| Utah | $82,500 |
| Virginia | $86,800 |
| Vermont | $84,600 |
| Washington | $93,400 |
| Wisconsin | $84,800 |
| West Virginia | $77,600 |
| Wyoming | $82,600 |
Highest Paying Cities for Librarian
Salary.com data shows that San Jose, California offers the highest pay for librarian at $108,700 per year. The other top highest-paying cities for librarian are:
- San Jose, California: $108,700
- San Francisco, California: $107,600
- Oakland, California: $105,200
- New York, New York: $99,900
- Queens Village, New York: $99,200
- Paramus, New Jersey: $98,500
Ways to Increase Your Librarian Salary
A librarian can increase their earning potential by building knowledge, networking with professional members, and taking advantage of growth opportunities.
Certifications, advanced degrees like a master's, or active contact with associations can make the process easy to navigate. By investing in development, librarians can better find advancement opportunities and see a great result in terms of jobs, career growth, and salary improvement.
- Gain experience: Librarians with more experience typically earn higher salaries. While entry-level librarians may start around $84,543, those with several years of experience, for example those with over 8 years can earn over $88,812 annually.
- Learn in-demand skills: Skills like customer satisfaction, customer support and content management system can generally increase salaries for librarians. For instance, a librarian with presentation software skills can see up to a 7.36% salary increase, based on real-time job posting data.
- Work in high-paying areas: Salaries vary by location. For example, a librarian in the District of Columbia can earn $95,400 per year, while those in California average around $95,100. Consider rural areas for unique opportunities, though pay may be lower.
- Negotiate: Understand current market rates and be ready to negotiate based on your qualifications. As of September 15, 2025, the average librarian in the United States earns $86,200 per year or about $41 per hour.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of September 15, 2025, data from five major salary-reporting websites indicate that the national average salary for librarians in the United States is $68.677.2 (unweighted).
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$86,200/ year
INDEED.COM AVG. SALARY
$63,611/ year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$72,000/ year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$56,382 year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$65,193/ year
