Prepares, marks and manages the sheet music an orchestra, opera or ballet company plays, making sure every musician has the right parts. BLS does not publish separate figures for librarians and media collections specialists; it counts them within librarian (SOC 25-4022), whose median pay is $68,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 25-4022
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Orchestra Librarian in four numbers
- Median pay
- $68,270a year, or $32.82/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $44KTop 10% $104K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.6%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 12,600142,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025142.3K
- Projected 2035145.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 142.3K Projected 2035 145.9K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Performance Librarian, Principal Librarian, Symphony Librarian, Music Librarian (Orchestra).
Pay
How much do Librarians and Media Collections Specialists make?
Every orchestra librarian in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$68,270
Middle half earn $56,310 to $84,480
- 10th
- $43,660
- 25th
- $56,310
- 75th
- $84,480
- 90th
- $103,990
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $43,660 |
| 25th | $56,310 |
| Median | $68,270 |
| 75th | $84,480 |
| 90th | $103,990 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
The median is typical for the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270.
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 43% of the 1,741 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.
Pay by state
Which states pay Librarians and Media Collections Specialists the most?
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.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $100,030 | $93,475 | 2,750 |
| 2District of Columbia | $96,550 | $87,852 | 960 |
| 3California | $89,790 | $81,096 | 10,180 |
| 4Maryland | $88,570 | $84,385 | 3,220 |
| 5Nevada | $84,540 | $84,558 | 610 |
| 6Connecticut | $79,210 | $76,450 | 2,550 |
| 7Alaska | $78,810 | $76,994 | 350 |
| 8New York | $78,590 | $72,822 | 11,870 |
| 9Massachusetts | $78,540 | $74,265 | 4,980 |
| 10New Jersey | $78,380 | $72,037 | 4,100 |
Job outlook
Is Orchestra Librarian a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | +2.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists to change 2.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,600 openings are projected each year, 8.9% of the 142,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Orchestra Librarian
There is no formal degree requirement, according to the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association. Most librarians are trained musicians with a music degree who can read scores, understand transpositions and know repertoire well, and some add library science or copyright training.
Many start as assistant librarians, interns or musicians who take on library duties for youth, community or regional orchestras. MOLA publishes career resources and runs an annual conference. Full-time positions exist mainly at major symphony, opera and ballet companies and with some military bands and universities.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does an Orchestra Librarian do?
Orchestra librarians make sure that when musicians sit down to rehearse, the right music is on every stand. They research and acquire scores and parts for each concert season, buying or renting from publishers and handling copyright and performance licensing.
Before rehearsals they edit parts, add bowings from principal string players, copy the conductor's cuts and markings into every part, and fix errors. They maintain the orchestra's collection, prepare music for tours and recordings, and often sit at rehearsals to track changes. At major orchestras the library is a hub of information for musicians, conductors and staff.
Day-to-day tasks
- Acquire, rent and license scores and parts for each concert
- Mark bowings, cuts and conductor instructions into parts
- Correct errors in published parts
- Distribute music to musicians before rehearsals
- Maintain and catalog the orchestra's music collection
- Prepare music for tours, recordings and broadcasts
- Track performance rights and copyright requirements
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Librarians work in an orchestra's library and at rehearsals and concerts, including evenings and weekends during the season. Busy periods come before each program and tour. The work is detailed, deadline driven and mostly indoors.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Writing3.6
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Monitoring3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Learning Strategies3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Instructing3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Management of Personnel Resources2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
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.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Orchestra Librarian?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code CAI) built on O*NET's Librarian profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Orchestra Librarian |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
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.
- Conventional5.9
- Social4.0
- Investigative4.0
- Artistic3.5
- Enterprising2.8
- Realistic2.3
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.
Explore further
Careers related to Orchestra Librarian
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Office and Administrative Support
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with librarians and media collections specialists highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Orchestra Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Orchestra Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Orchestra Librarian appears on
Questions
Orchestra Librarian: frequently asked questions
How much do Librarians and Media Collections Specialists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for librarians and media collections specialists. It counts them within librarian, whose median pay is $68,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $56,310 and $84,480, and the top 10% earn $103,990 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Orchestra Librarian?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation.
Is Orchestra Librarian a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.6% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 12,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Orchestra Librarian do?
Orchestra librarians make sure that when musicians sit down to rehearse, the right music is on every stand. A typical task: acquire, rent and license scores and parts for each concert. 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 an Orchestra 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 1,731 careers in the bank.