State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Librarian Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earn a median of $68,270 per year ($32.82/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.7% through 2034, with about 13,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
SOC 25-4022Educational Instruction and LibraryLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $68,270
- Projected growth
- +1.7%
- Openings a year
- 13,500
- Typical education
- Master's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Catalog Librarian, Instructional Technology Specialist, Librarian, Library Media Specialist, Media Specialist, Media Technician.
How much do Librarians and Media Collections Specialists make?
10th percentile$43,660
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$56,310
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$68,270
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$84,480
Upper quartile
90th percentile$103,990
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $68,270 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $32.82/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $72,840 |
| People employed | 133,790 |
Versus all US occupations
At $68,270, Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earn 34% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $17,290 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $77,355, this is 12% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $103,990 or more while the bottom 10% earn $43,660, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 54% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $100,030, and still leads at $93,475 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Librarians and Media Collections Specialists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $100,030 | $93,475 | 2,750 |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 | $87,852 | 960 |
| California | $89,790 | $81,096 | 10,180 |
| Maryland | $88,570 | $84,385 | 3,220 |
| Nevada | $84,540 | $84,558 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $79,210 | $76,450 | 2,550 |
| Alaska | $78,810 | $76,994 | 350 |
| New York | $78,590 | $72,822 | 11,870 |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 | $74,265 | 4,980 |
| New Jersey | $78,380 | $72,037 | 4,100 |
Is Librarian a growing career?
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists1.7%
All US occupations3.1%
+1.7% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists to change 1.7% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 2,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 13,500 openings are projected each year, 9.5% of the 142,100 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 13,500 openings for librarians and library media specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Despite a decline by the public in traditional borrowing of materials, libraries still need librarians to host a variety of services and activities. Therefore, there will be a need for librarians to manage libraries and to help patrons find information. Parents value the learning opportunities that libraries present for children because libraries have information and learning materials that children often cannot access from home. Library patrons are expected to continue attending events and using other library services, such as child-focused activities and employment assistance.
How to become a Librarian
Librarians typically need a master’s degree in library science (MLS). School librarians and library media specialists typically need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, along with a teaching certificate; requirements vary by state.
| Typical entry-level education | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as librarians and media collections specialists.
- Master's Degree64.7%
- Some College Courses10.2%
- Bachelor's Degree8.2%
- Post-Master's Certificate4.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.5%
What does a Librarian do?
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.
Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. Their job duties may change based on the type of setting they work in, such as public, school, or medical libraries.
Day-to-day tasks
- Explain use of library facilities, resources, equipment, and services, and provide information about library policies.
- Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
- Locate unusual or unique information in response to specific requests.
- Evaluate materials to determine outdated or unused items to be discarded.
- Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
- Engage in professional development activities, such as taking continuing education classes and attending or participating in conferences, workshops, professional meetings, and associations.
- Respond to customer complaints, taking action as necessary.
- Assemble and arrange display materials.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where librarians and media collections specialists work
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 32% |
|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 31% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 9% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private | 9% |
| Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services | 5% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Writing3.6/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
- Learning Strategies2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Service Orientation3.4/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.3/5
- Instructing3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Time Management3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Management of Material Resources2.8/5
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Librarian?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic2.3
Investigativeprimary3.6
Artistic2.6
Socialprimary4.0
Enterprising2.8
Conventionalprimary5.8
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Librarian: frequently asked questions
How much do Librarians and Media Collections Specialists make?
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earn a median of $68,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 34% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $32.82/hr. The middle half earn between $56,310 and $84,480. The top 10% earn $103,990 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Librarian?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 64.7% hold master's degree.
Is Librarian a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.7% over 2024–2034 against 3.1% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 13,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Librarian do?
Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. A core O*NET task: explain use of library facilities, resources, equipment, and services, and provide information about library policies. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software, Desktop publishing software.
Which states pay Librarians and Media Collections Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists are Washington ($100,030), District of Columbia ($96,550), California ($89,790) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Librarian?
O*NET scores Librarians and Media Collections Specialists highest on the Conventional, Social and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.