Best cities for a reference librarian
The best cities for reference librarians are Detroit, MI, Anchorage, AK, and Portland, OR, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for reference librarians vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for reference librarians in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a reference librarian or considering a move, this list of the best cities for reference librarians to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for reference librarians. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a reference librarian. While the absolute best city for reference librarians is Detroit, MI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for reference librarians in 2024.
If you're looking for a reference librarian job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for reference librarians in 2026
1. Detroit, MI
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $57,553 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Anchorage, AK
Total reference librarian jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $70,944 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 9.39 3. Portland, OR
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,449 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. San Francisco, CA
Total reference librarian jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $67,634 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 2.38 5. Reno, NV
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,572 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Seattle, WA
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,741 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Sacramento, CA
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $67,811 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fremont, CA
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $66,845 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Lincoln, NE
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,611 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Oakland, CA
Total reference librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $67,474 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for reference librarians
- Detroit, MI
- Anchorage, AK
- Portland, OR
- San Francisco, CA
- Reno, NV
- Seattle, WA
- Sacramento, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Lincoln, NE
- Oakland, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a reference librarian
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $57,553 | $41,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $70,944 | $62,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $62,449 | $41,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $67,634 | $42,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 5 | Reno, NV | $58,572 | $36,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $62,741 | $42,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $67,811 | $42,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 8 | Fremont, CA | $66,845 | $41,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 9 | Lincoln, NE | $55,611 | $39,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | $67,474 | $42,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 11 | San Jose, CA | $66,260 | $41,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 12 | Omaha, NE | $55,792 | $40,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 13 | Stockton, CA | $67,122 | $42,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 14 | Newark, NJ | $59,551 | $42,000 | 281,764 | 4 |
| 15 | North Las Vegas, NV | $51,968 | $33,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 16 | Henderson, NV | $51,716 | $33,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $52,233 | $37,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 18 | Las Vegas, NV | $52,008 | $34,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,285 | $36,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 20 | Jersey City, NJ | $59,568 | $42,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 21 | Cleveland, OH | $48,537 | $34,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 22 | Columbus, OH | $47,603 | $33,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 23 | Toledo, OH | $48,056 | $34,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 24 | Lexington, KY | $47,395 | $33,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 25 | Saint Paul, MN | $51,930 | $38,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 26 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,917 | $38,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 27 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,710 | $36,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 28 | Louisville, KY | $47,220 | $33,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $63,489 | $40,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 30 | New York, NY | $57,805 | $41,000 | 8,537,673 | 15 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $46,340 | $32,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $49,477 | $36,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 33 | Fort Wayne, IN | $48,249 | $34,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 34 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,263 | $33,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 35 | Hempstead, NY | $57,794 | $41,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 36 | Durham, NC | $48,857 | $33,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $48,819 | $33,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 38 | Wichita, KS | $47,978 | $33,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 39 | Islip, NY | $57,587 | $41,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 40 | Oyster Bay, NY | $57,529 | $41,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $48,502 | $33,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 42 | Brookhaven, NY | $57,302 | $41,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 43 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,314 | $33,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $45,201 | $30,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 45 | Los Angeles, CA | $58,719 | $38,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | $47,525 | $32,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $45,386 | $31,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 48 | Buffalo, NY | $56,066 | $41,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 49 | Atlanta, GA | $48,636 | $32,000 | 472,522 | - |
| 50 | Bakersfield, CA | $60,121 | $39,000 | 376,380 | - |
Highest paying cities for reference librarians
| Rank | City | Avg. reference librarian salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $70,944 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $67,634 |
| 3 | Bellevue, WA | $62,672 |
| 4 | Eugene, OR | $62,387 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $59,551 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $58,359 |
| 7 | New Haven, CT | $58,088 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $57,805 |
| 9 | Ann Arbor, MI | $57,403 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $55,792 |
| 11 | Springfield, MA | $54,016 |
| 12 | Providence, RI | $50,767 |
| 13 | Nashua, NH | $48,955 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $48,819 |
| 15 | Leesburg, VA | $48,316 |
| 16 | Naperville, IL | $47,462 |
| 17 | Georgetown, TX | $46,902 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $46,562 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $46,335 |
| 20 | Knoxville, TN | $45,542 |
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Updated January 8, 2025