Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary by State
The national median pay for librarians and media collections specialists is $68,270 a year. By state, it ranges from $42,980 in West Virginia to $100,030 in Washington.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $43,660
- 25th percentile
- $56,310
- Median
- $68,270
- 75th percentile
- $84,480
- Top 10%
- $103,990
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 133,790 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $100,030 | +47% | $64,440 | $129,690 | 2,750 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $96,550 | +41% | $63,540 | $126,660 | 960 |
| 3 | California | $89,790 | +32% | $50,750 | $132,870 | 10,180 |
| 4 | Maryland | $88,570 | +30% | $57,380 | $123,910 | 3,220 |
| 5 | Nevada | $84,540 | +24% | $56,310 | $102,940 | 610 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $79,210 | +16% | $50,340 | $116,720 | 2,550 |
| 7 | Alaska | $78,810 | +15% | $48,760 | $98,530 | 350 |
| 8 | New York | $78,590 | +15% | $52,340 | $129,970 | 11,870 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $78,540 | +15% | $50,260 | $109,060 | 4,980 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $78,380 | +15% | $56,320 | $107,050 | 4,100 |
| 11 | Oregon | $78,070 | +14% | $43,740 | $116,250 | 1,690 |
| 12 | Delaware | $77,700 | +14% | $56,940 | $102,160 | 370 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $77,650 | +14% | $48,040 | $99,990 | 2,220 |
| 14 | Virginia | $77,430 | +13% | $48,510 | $107,600 | 4,590 |
| 15 | Georgia | $76,750 | +12% | $48,500 | $101,730 | 3,330 |
| 16 | Colorado | $76,480 | +12% | $51,200 | $101,280 | 1,990 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $75,860 | +11% | $50,040 | $100,990 | 780 |
| 18 | Texas | $71,860 | +5% | $49,240 | $100,790 | 9,150 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $68,270 | 0% | $51,280 | $97,760 | 300 |
| 20 | Florida | $67,060 | −2% | $49,320 | $92,240 | 6,670 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $66,870 | −2% | $46,350 | $85,970 | 2,450 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $65,200 | −4% | $45,950 | $85,190 | 1,980 |
| 23 | Alabama | $64,650 | −5% | $37,890 | $78,310 | 2,750 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $64,060 | −6% | $33,820 | $92,860 | 1,200 |
| 25 | Montana | $63,870 | −6% | $40,750 | $84,440 | 640 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $63,580 | −7% | $40,560 | $94,300 | 1,150 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $62,880 | −8% | $37,240 | $98,490 | 5,050 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $62,830 | −8% | $36,400 | $98,000 | 570 |
| 29 | Illinois | $62,700 | −8% | $38,650 | $103,540 | 5,390 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $62,640 | −8% | $36,490 | $92,890 | 2,130 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $62,530 | −8% | $41,600 | $97,490 | 580 |
| 32 | Vermont | $62,360 | −9% | $36,390 | $86,070 | 600 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $62,090 | −9% | $36,860 | $80,140 | 2,540 |
| 34 | Kansas | $61,900 | −9% | $34,780 | $80,570 | 1,620 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $61,420 | −10% | $44,600 | $83,650 | 4,010 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $60,650 | −11% | $46,800 | $78,240 | 2,130 |
| 37 | Ohio | $60,630 | −11% | $39,710 | $92,900 | 4,820 |
| 38 | Arizona | $60,500 | −11% | $35,730 | $96,490 | 1,990 |
| 39 | Michigan | $60,010 | −12% | $39,450 | $89,750 | 3,940 |
| 40 | Maine | $59,540 | −13% | $36,580 | $83,640 | 780 |
| 41 | Missouri | $58,700 | −14% | $34,510 | $86,850 | 2,970 |
| 42 | Iowa | $58,440 | −14% | $31,620 | $86,600 | 1,770 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $58,180 | −15% | $32,350 | $82,650 | 1,820 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $56,970 | −17% | $29,340 | $68,970 | 1,060 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $56,800 | −17% | $31,640 | $73,210 | 1,490 |
| 46 | Idaho | $54,130 | −21% | $35,940 | $90,950 | 650 |
| 47 | Utah | $53,730 | −21% | $35,810 | $99,890 | 1,630 |
| 48 | Indiana | $53,500 | −22% | $32,520 | $79,300 | 1,920 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $51,210 | −25% | $37,760 | $77,500 | 490 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $46,530 | −32% | $27,990 | $74,290 | 440 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $42,980 | −37% | $29,910 | $63,130 | 610 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary questions
Which state pays librarians and media collections specialists the most?
Washington, with a median of $100,030 a year (+47% vs. the national median of $68,270). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays librarians and media collections specialists the least?
West Virginia, with a median of $42,980 a year (−37% vs. national).
Where do most librarians and media collections specialists work?
New York has the most jobs, about 11,870, with a median of $78,590.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.