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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
For Librarians weighing a relocation, this page is the starting point. The national median salary for Librarians in 2026 is $75,653, with entry-level positions averaging $54,470 and senior roles reaching $107,427. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $137,800, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Librarian falls within the Education sector, specifically in Education. The typical education path involves Master's in library sci. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is library/hybrid — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$83,850 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Librarian in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $137,800 — $83,850 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,950). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The salary distribution for Librarians reveals a $52,957 spread from entry to senior. At $75,653, the median sits $4,714 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $54,470 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $107,427 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
But raw salary is only half the story. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $128,700 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $54,383. That $74,317 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
A Librarian in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $137,800 — $83,850 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($53,950). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Librarian is $54,470, while senior-level (P90) earners average $107,427. That $52,957 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Librarians average $54,470 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $54,470 | $75,653 | $107,427 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £27,217 | £37,802 | £53,679 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$49,808 | CA$69,177 | CA$98,232 |
| Australia | 13 | A$58,674 | A$81,491 | A$115,718 |
| Sweden | 24 | 324,066 kr | 450,091 kr | 639,129 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $65,742 | $91,309 | $129,659 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $63,531 | $88,238 | $125,297 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $63,180 | $87,750 | $124,605 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $58,500 | $81,250 | $115,375 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $57,798 | $80,275 | $113,991 |
| Washington | 8 | $56,687 | $78,731 | $111,798 |
| New York | 5 | $53,352 | $74,100 | $105,222 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $53,352 | $74,100 | $105,222 |
| Florida | 22 | $52,948 | $73,539 | $104,425 |
| Colorado | 11 | $52,033 | $72,268 | $102,621 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $51,948 | $72,150 | $102,453 |
| Nevada | 5 | $51,854 | $72,020 | $102,268 |
| Arizona | 12 | $51,597 | $71,663 | $101,761 |
| Oregon | 5 | $51,480 | $71,500 | $101,530 |
| Idaho | 3 | $51,324 | $71,283 | $101,222 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $50,918 | $70,720 | $100,422 |
| Utah | 4 | $50,778 | $70,525 | $100,146 |
| Virginia | 7 | $49,942 | $69,364 | $98,497 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $49,296 | $68,467 | $97,223 |
| Alaska | 1 | $49,140 | $68,250 | $96,915 |
| Illinois | 5 | $48,578 | $67,470 | $95,807 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $47,372 | $65,794 | $93,428 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $46,800 | $65,000 | $92,300 |
| Montana | 1 | $46,800 | $65,000 | $92,300 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $46,644 | $64,783 | $91,992 |
| Texas | 40 | $46,414 | $64,464 | $91,539 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $46,332 | $64,350 | $91,377 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $46,098 | $64,025 | $90,916 |
| Georgia | 6 | $45,942 | $63,808 | $90,608 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $45,864 | $63,700 | $90,454 |
| Kansas | 4 | $45,630 | $63,375 | $89,993 |
| Michigan | 6 | $45,474 | $63,158 | $89,685 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $44,928 | $62,400 | $88,608 |
| Maryland | 1 | $44,928 | $62,400 | $88,608 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $44,460 | $61,750 | $87,685 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $44,460 | $61,750 | $87,685 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $43,290 | $60,125 | $85,378 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $43,056 | $59,800 | $84,916 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $42,471 | $58,988 | $83,762 |
| Missouri | 4 | $42,471 | $58,988 | $83,762 |
| Alabama | 5 | $42,307 | $58,760 | $83,439 |
| Indiana | 3 | $41,652 | $57,850 | $82,147 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $41,652 | $57,850 | $82,147 |
| Iowa | 2 | $41,184 | $57,200 | $81,224 |
| Ohio | 6 | $41,106 | $57,092 | $81,070 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $39,312 | $54,600 | $77,532 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Librarian median of $91,309 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($88,238) and Hawaii ($87,750). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $54,600 and $57,200. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($137,800 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $65,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $137,800 | 212 | $65,000 | $82,816 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $128,700 | 198 | $65,000 | $77,807 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $119,600 | 184 | $65,000 | $72,797 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $117,650 | 181 | $65,000 | $71,724 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $115,700 | 178 | $65,000 | $70,650 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $115,050 | 177 | $65,000 | $70,293 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $115,050 | 177 | $65,000 | $70,293 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $112,450 | 173 | $65,000 | $68,861 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $112,450 | 173 | $65,000 | $68,861 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $109,850 | 169 | $65,000 | $67,430 |
Career economics for Librarians: entry level averages $54,470, mid-career hits $75,653, and experienced professionals reach $107,427. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Master's in library sci, and the work is library/hybrid. The outlook: steady. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The weighted national median salary for Librarians is $75,653 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $54,470, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $107,427.
The highest-paying city for Librarians is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $137,800. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($137,800), Santa Clara ($128,700), Irvine ($119,600). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Librarian salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $53,950. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Librarians (10th percentile) average $54,470 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $99,216. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Librarians average $107,427 nationally — $52,957 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Librarians can earn up to $195,676.
The top-paying states for Librarians are California ($91,309 median), Massachusetts ($88,238 median), Hawaii ($87,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Librarian involves Master's in library sci. The field is in the Education sector (Education), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically library/hybrid.
With a national median of $75,653 and representation across 288 metro areas, Librarian offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $52,957 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.