Best cities for a library director
The best cities for library directors are Reno, NV, Cleveland, OH, and Toledo, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for library directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for library directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a library director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for library directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for library directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a library director. While the absolute best city for library directors is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for library directors in 2024.
If you're looking for a library director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for library directors in 2025
1. Reno, NV
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,508 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Cleveland, OH
Total library director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $45,535 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 5.53 3. Toledo, OH
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,269 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Saint Paul, MN
Total library director jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $50,473 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 4.58 5. Detroit, MI
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,261 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Raleigh, NC
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,054 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Durham, NC
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,016 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Anchorage, AK
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $64,969 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,741 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Philadelphia, PA
Total library director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,033 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 0.00
Best cities for library directors
- Reno, NV
- Cleveland, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Saint Paul, MN
- Detroit, MI
- Raleigh, NC
- Durham, NC
- Anchorage, AK
- Las Vegas, NV
- Philadelphia, PA
- (0 library director jobs)
- (2 library director jobs)
- (0 library director jobs)
- (2 library director jobs)
- (0 library director jobs)
- (0 library director jobs)
- (0 library director jobs)
- (0 library director jobs)
- (0 library director jobs)
- (0 library director jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a library director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $49,508 | $27,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $45,535 | $28,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 3 | Toledo, OH | $44,269 | $27,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $50,473 | $33,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $53,261 | $33,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $46,054 | $27,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $46,016 | $27,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $64,969 | $41,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,741 | $26,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,033 | $31,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 11 | North Las Vegas, NV | $46,631 | $26,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 12 | Jersey City, NJ | $58,257 | $36,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $46,613 | $26,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $45,105 | $27,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 15 | Newark, NJ | $58,225 | $36,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 16 | Fort Wayne, IN | $43,227 | $27,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,740 | $29,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $43,424 | $27,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $43,378 | $26,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,453 | $31,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 21 | Lincoln, NE | $43,164 | $27,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 22 | Minneapolis, MN | $50,403 | $33,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 23 | Winston-Salem, NC | $44,601 | $26,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 24 | Madison, WI | $46,504 | $30,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 25 | Cincinnati, OH | $40,960 | $25,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 26 | Lexington, KY | $41,563 | $25,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 27 | Charlotte, NC | $43,106 | $25,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 28 | Baltimore, MD | $54,864 | $33,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 29 | Laredo, TX | $43,744 | $25,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 30 | Corpus Christi, TX | $43,698 | $25,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 31 | Houston, TX | $43,357 | $25,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 32 | San Antonio, TX | $43,517 | $25,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 33 | Austin, TX | $43,250 | $25,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $40,938 | $25,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 35 | Louisville, KY | $40,649 | $25,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $42,929 | $25,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 37 | Portland, OR | $46,552 | $26,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 38 | Washington, DC | $56,716 | $34,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 39 | Boston, MA | $48,085 | $30,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 40 | Seattle, WA | $46,032 | $26,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 41 | Virginia Beach, VA | $46,222 | $27,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 42 | Dallas, TX | $41,457 | $24,000 | 1,317,929 | 2 |
| 43 | Norfolk, VA | $46,104 | $27,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 44 | Atlanta, GA | $42,162 | $25,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 45 | Arlington, TX | $41,549 | $24,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $45,928 | $27,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 47 | Fort Worth, TX | $41,539 | $24,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | $38,544 | $23,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $41,474 | $24,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 50 | Oakland, CA | $49,530 | $27,000 | 420,005 | - |
Highest paying cities for library directors
| Rank | City | Avg. library director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hoboken, NJ | $58,204 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $53,261 |
| 3 | Ramsey, MN | $50,358 |
| 4 | Rancho Cordova, CA | $49,198 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $48,342 |
| 6 | Brookline, MA | $48,153 |
| 7 | Oshkosh, WI | $47,381 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $45,578 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $45,535 |
| 10 | Lynchburg, VA | $44,034 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $43,424 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $43,357 |
| 13 | Kokomo, IN | $41,671 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $40,026 |
| 15 | Lebanon, TN | $38,652 |
| 16 | Cape Girardeau, MO | $38,295 |
| 17 | Clovis, NM | $37,969 |
| 18 | Edmond, OK | $37,314 |
Library director best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for library director jobs
Updated January 8, 2025