Best states for a library associate

Q: What is the best state for library associates?

The best state to be a library associate is Washington based on library associate salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for library associates?

The highest paying state for library associates is Missouri based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for library associates?

The worst state for library associates is Arkansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Rene Burress Ph.D.

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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for library associates? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for library associate jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of library associates in America is $46,000.

In order to get you the best states for library associates, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for library associates, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for library associate jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.

10 best states for library associates in 2026

1. Washington
Total library associate jobs: 16
Average annual salary: $48,422
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Library associate jobs in Washington
2. Rhode Island
Total library associate jobs: 4
Average annual salary: $44,857
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
1.75
Library associate jobs in Rhode Island
3. New York
Total library associate jobs: 26
Average annual salary: $49,542
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Library associate jobs in New York
4. Massachusetts
Total library associate jobs: 14
Average annual salary: $47,182
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Library associate jobs in Massachusetts
5. Alaska
Total library associate jobs: 2
Average annual salary: $44,800
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Library associate jobs in Alaska
6. Connecticut
Total library associate jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $44,567
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
1.45
Library associate jobs in Connecticut
7. Montana
Total library associate jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $40,824
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
4.16
Library associate jobs in Montana
8. Nevada
Total library associate jobs: 9
Average annual salary: $41,005
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
2.29
Library associate jobs in Nevada
9. Maine
Total library associate jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $42,322
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
1.21
Library associate jobs in Maine
10. North Dakota
Total library associate jobs: 1
Average annual salary: $44,704
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000
Location Quotient:
0.57
Library associate jobs in North Dakota

Library associate jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a library associate

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a library associate

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Washington	$48,422	$37,000	7,405,743	16
2	Rhode Island	$44,857	$33,000	1,059,639	4
3	New York	$49,542	$36,000	19,849,399	26
4	Massachusetts	$47,182	$36,000	6,859,819	14
5	Alaska	$44,800	$37,000	739,795	2
6	Connecticut	$44,567	$33,000	3,588,184	9
7	Montana	$40,824	$31,000	1,050,493	9
8	Nevada	$41,005	$30,000	2,998,039	9
9	Maine	$42,322	$33,000	1,335,907	3
10	North Dakota	$44,704	$34,000	755,393	1
11	Oklahoma	$37,224	$28,000	3,930,864	15
12	Minnesota	$43,240	$33,000	5,576,606	9
13	California	$44,879	$32,000	39,536,653	64
14	New Hampshire	$44,406	$34,000	1,342,795	1
15	District of Columbia	$41,991	$30,000	693,972	11
16	Vermont	$43,945	$34,000	623,657	0
17	Colorado	$37,490	$28,000	5,607,154	27
18	Wyoming	$35,659	$27,000	579,315	5
19	Delaware	$42,958	$31,000	961,939	1
20	Nebraska	$36,878	$28,000	1,920,076	5
21	South Dakota	$39,707	$30,000	869,666	1
22	New Jersey	$37,995	$28,000	9,005,644	22
23	Maryland	$38,776	$28,000	6,052,177	14
24	Kansas	$35,447	$26,000	2,913,123	11
25	West Virginia	$37,855	$28,000	1,815,857	0
26	Pennsylvania	$36,491	$26,000	12,805,537	18
27	Utah	$35,471	$27,000	3,101,833	5
28	Michigan	$36,235	$27,000	9,962,311	8
29	Wisconsin	$36,031	$27,000	5,795,483	7
30	Arizona	$34,448	$25,000	7,016,270	16
31	Illinois	$35,343	$26,000	12,802,023	27
32	Oregon	$36,504	$27,000	4,142,776	5
33	Iowa	$35,631	$27,000	3,145,711	3
34	Idaho	$33,869	$26,000	1,716,943	3
35	Ohio	$34,682	$26,000	11,658,609	6
36	Florida	$33,937	$24,000	20,984,400	29
37	Mississippi	$33,504	$24,000	2,984,100	3
38	Virginia	$35,455	$25,000	8,470,020	12
39	Louisiana	$34,144	$24,000	4,684,333	0
40	Indiana	$32,100	$24,000	6,666,818	7
41	New Mexico	$29,354	$21,000	2,088,070	7
42	Missouri	$28,562	$21,000	6,113,532	21
43	Texas	$29,586	$21,000	28,304,596	37
44	Alabama	$30,720	$22,000	4,874,747	5
45	South Carolina	$30,399	$22,000	5,024,369	6
46	Hawaii	$33,670	$27,000	1,427,538	0
47	Tennessee	$30,657	$23,000	6,715,984	4
48	North Carolina	$31,218	$23,000	10,273,419	7
49	Kentucky	$28,899	$21,000	4,454,189	5
50	Georgia	$29,455	$21,000	10,429,379	15
51	Arkansas	$28,575	$21,000	3,004,279	1

Highest paying states for library associates

Rank	State	Avg. Library Associate Salary
1	Washington	$48,422
2	Rhode Island	$44,857
3	New York	$49,542
4	Massachusetts	$47,182
5	Alaska	$44,800
6	Connecticut	$44,567
7	Montana	$40,824
8	Nevada	$41,005
9	Maine	$42,322
10	North Dakota	$44,704
11	Oklahoma	$37,224
12	Minnesota	$43,240
13	California	$44,879
14	New Hampshire	$44,406
15	District of Columbia	$41,991
16	Vermont	$43,945
17	Colorado	$37,490
18	Wyoming	$35,659
19	Delaware	$42,958
20	Nebraska	$36,878
21	South Dakota	$39,707
22	New Jersey	$37,995
23	Maryland	$38,776
24	Kansas	$35,447
25	West Virginia	$37,855
26	Pennsylvania	$36,491
27	Utah	$35,471
28	Michigan	$36,235
29	Wisconsin	$36,031
30	Arizona	$34,448
31	Illinois	$35,343
32	Oregon	$36,504
33	Iowa	$35,631
34	Idaho	$33,869
35	Ohio	$34,682
36	Florida	$33,937
37	Mississippi	$33,504
38	Virginia	$35,455
39	Louisiana	$34,144
40	Indiana	$32,100
41	New Mexico	$29,354
42	Missouri	$28,562
43	Texas	$29,586
44	Alabama	$30,720
45	South Carolina	$30,399
46	Hawaii	$33,670
47	Tennessee	$30,657
48	North Carolina	$31,218
49	Kentucky	$28,899
50	Georgia	$29,455
51	Arkansas	$28,575

Expert opinions on the best states for library associates

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for library associates to find work opportunities?
Dr. Rene Burress Ph.D.
Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator, University of Central Missouri
Librarians are needed in all 50 states, in nearly every K-12 school, every university, and every community has a library. Bigger cities have more frequent opportunities, but there are regular openings for librarian jobs in every state, even in very small towns. I have received emails from library board directors of small towns begging for applicants.

Library associate best states FAQs

What is the best state for library associates?

What is the highest paying state for library associates?

What is the worst state for library associates?

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Search for library associate jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs

Total library associate jobs:	16
Average annual salary:	$48,422
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$37,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$62,000
Location Quotient:	1.17

Best states for a library associate

10 best states for library associates in 2026

1. Washington

2. Rhode Island

3. New York

4. Massachusetts

5. Alaska

6. Connecticut

7. Montana

8. Nevada

9. Maine

10. North Dakota