All careers › Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Librarian: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $43,660lowest 10% earn less
- $56,31025th percentile
- $68,270median
- $84,48075th percentile
- $103,990top 10% earn more
The median librarian pay was $68,270 a year in May 2025[1]. The usual entry path is a master's degree[2].
How much do librarians make?
BLS groups librarians in the category Librarians and Media Collections Specialists. In May 2025, the median wage was $68,270 a year, or $32.82 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) wage was $72,840 a year, or $35.02 an hour[7].
The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. The librarian median is above that figure.
Pay varies a lot within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,660 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $103,990[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages and does not publish a starting salary[8].
| Level | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3][9] | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| 25th percentile[3][9] | $56,310 | $27.07 |
| Median[1] | $68,270 | $32.82 |
| 75th percentile[3][9] | $84,480 | $40.62 |
| 90th percentile[3][9] | $103,990 | $50.00 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10].
Pay by state and city
Washington had the highest median wage at $100,030 a year[11]. The District of Columbia was next at $96,550, followed by California at $89,790[11].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $103,240[12]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,780) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($101,490) came next[12].
The states with the most jobs were New York (11,870), California (10,180), Texas (9,150), Florida (6,670) and Illinois (5,390)[13]. The biggest metro area by jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with 10,690 jobs and a median of $81,670[14].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Washington[11] | $100,030 | 2,750 |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 | 960 |
| California | $89,790 | 10,180 |
| Maryland | $88,570 | 3,220 |
| Nevada | $84,540 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $79,210 | 2,550 |
| Alaska | $78,810 | 350 |
| New York | $78,590 | 11,870 |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 | 4,980 |
| New Jersey | $78,380 | 4,100 |
| Oregon | $78,070 | 1,690 |
| Delaware | $77,700 | 370 |
| Minnesota | $77,650 | 2,220 |
| Virginia | $77,430 | 4,590 |
| Georgia | $76,750 | 3,330 |
| Colorado | $76,480 | 1,990 |
| Rhode Island | $75,860 | 780 |
| Texas | $71,860 | 9,150 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 | 300 |
| Florida | $67,060 | 6,670 |
| Wisconsin | $66,870 | 2,450 |
| Kentucky | $65,200 | 1,980 |
| Alabama | $64,650 | 2,750 |
| Nebraska | $64,060 | 1,200 |
| Montana | $63,870 | 640 |
| New Hampshire | $63,580 | 1,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,880 | 5,050 |
| North Dakota | $62,830 | 570 |
| Illinois | $62,700 | 5,390 |
| South Carolina | $62,640 | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $62,530 | 580 |
| Vermont | $62,360 | 600 |
| Tennessee | $62,090 | 2,540 |
| Kansas | $61,900 | 1,620 |
| North Carolina | $61,420 | 4,010 |
| Louisiana | $60,650 | 2,130 |
| Ohio | $60,630 | 4,820 |
| Arizona | $60,500 | 1,990 |
| Michigan | $60,010 | 3,940 |
| Maine | $59,540 | 780 |
| Missouri | $58,700 | 2,970 |
| Iowa | $58,440 | 1,770 |
| Oklahoma | $58,180 | 1,820 |
| Mississippi | $56,970 | 1,060 |
| Arkansas | $56,800 | 1,490 |
| Idaho | $54,130 | 650 |
| Utah | $53,730 | 1,630 |
| Indiana | $53,500 | 1,920 |
| South Dakota | $51,210 | 490 |
| Wyoming | $46,530 | 440 |
| West Virginia | $42,980 | 610 |
How to become a librarian
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[2].
- First: earn a bachelor's degree. Any major can work for entry into a library science master's program[15].
- Next: complete a master's degree in library science. Some schools use other names, such as Master of Information Studies[15]. These programs usually take 1 to 2 years[16].
- Then: if you want to work in a school, check your state's rules. School librarians typically need a teaching certificate, and requirements vary by state[17][18]. Some states also ask school librarians to pass a standardized test[18].
- Last: ask your state's licensing board about public libraries. Some states require certification for public librarians[19].
Special librarians, such as those in corporate, law or medical libraries, usually add knowledge of their field to the master's degree. Some employers want a degree in that subject[20].
BLS also names skills that matter in this work. They include communication, interpersonal skills, organization, problem solving and the initiative to keep up with changing technology[21][22][23][24][25].
What librarians do
Librarians run libraries and collections of information that people use by borrowing or by asking for help[26]. They work with books, periodicals, recordings, films and databases[26]. Common tasks in O*NET include:
- Searching reference sources, including online ones, to answer patrons' questions[27].
- Working out what a patron needs and helping them find it[27].
- Cataloging books, films and other materials by subject or by standard classification systems[27].
- Choosing and ordering print, audio-visual and electronic resources[27].
- Teaching classes on information literacy and technology use[27].
- Arranging interlibrary loans for items a library does not hold[27].
- Supervising daily operations, budgets and staff[27].
- Evaluating vendors and negotiating contracts[27].
Job titles that workers report include Reference Librarian, Catalog Librarian, School Librarian and Library Media Specialist[28].
Where librarians work
Local government outside education and hospitals was the largest employer in 2025 at 32%[29]. O*NET also notes settings such as educational institutions, museums and corporations[26].
Day to day, librarians work on the floor with patrons, at the circulation desk or in offices. Those in small libraries usually share work space[30].
Most work full time, though part-time work is common. Public and academic librarians often work evenings and weekends and may work holidays. School librarians usually follow teachers' schedules, including summers off. Special librarians typically keep normal business hours but may work more than 40 hours a week to meet deadlines[31].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of librarians and media collections specialists to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035[5]. That is about 3,600 more jobs, from 142,300 to 145,900[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[32]. These counts include self-employed workers[5].
Growth is only part of the picture. BLS projects about 12,600 openings a year on average[6]. They include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 4.7% of workers leave the labor force and 3.8% move to a different occupation[33].
OEWS counted about 133,790 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[34]. That differs from the projection count because the two measure different things.
Is it a good fit?
The facts point to a job with pay above the all-occupations median[1][4] and a wide range from lower to higher earners[3]. The main entry requirement is a master's degree, which usually takes 1 to 2 years after a bachelor's[2][16]. Growth is projected to be slower than average, but openings from retirements and job changes continue[5][32][6]. People who like helping patrons find information, teaching and organizing materials may see their interests in the task list[27]. School and public library jobs may add state requirements, so check them early[18][19].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a librarian make an hour?
- The median was $32.82 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $35.02[1][7].
- What degree do you need to be a librarian?
- BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education, usually in library science[2][17]. A bachelor's degree in any major is enough to enter such programs[15].
- How long does it take to become a librarian?
- Master's programs in library science usually take 1 to 2 years[16].
- Is librarian a growing job?
- BLS projects 2.6% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][32]. About 12,600 openings a year are projected[6].
- What is the highest paying state for librarians?
- Washington, with a median of $100,030 a year, followed by the District of Columbia at $96,550[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in the US was $68,270 per year and $32.82 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Librarians and Media Collections Specialists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists: 10th percentile $43,660, 25th percentile $56,310, 75th percentile $84,480, 90th percentile $103,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 142,300 to 145,900 jobs (a change of +3,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: about 12,600 openings for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists was $72,840 per year and $35.02 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists: 10th percentile $20.99, 25th percentile $27.07, 75th percentile $40.62, 90th percentile $50.00. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $103,240; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $101,780; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $101,490; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $100,240; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $97,510; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $95,480; Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $94,380; Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $92,610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs: New York 11,870; California 10,180; Texas 9,150; Florida 6,670; Illinois 5,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 10,690 (median $81,670); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,740 (median $66,250); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 3,660 (median $79,450); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,630 (median $95,480); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,270 (median $97,510); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,550 (median $74,340). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-4022.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Catalog Librarian, Cataloger, Librarian, Library Media Specialist, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Reference Librarian, Research Librarian, School Librarian. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of librarians and library media specialists in 2025: Local government, excluding education and hospitals 32%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists: 4.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 133,790 people were employed as Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.