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Best states for a reference librarian
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a reference librarian and really want to work at The New York Public Library? Turns out, your chances to become a reference librarian are better in some states than others.Although there are abundant reference librarian jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. New Jersey is the best state in the country for reference librarian jobs.
New Jersey is the best state for jobs for reference librarians, and Arkansas is the worst. The most common pay in New Jersey is $59,694, while the median pay in Arkansas is $41,532.If you are currently seeking employment as a reference librarian, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for reference librarians in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total reference librarian jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $59,694 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
2. Alaska
Total reference librarian jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $71,033 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
3. Michigan
Total reference librarian jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $57,348 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
4. Connecticut
Total reference librarian jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $57,903 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
5. Nevada
Total reference librarian jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $52,976 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 2.97
6. Oregon
Total reference librarian jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $62,417 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.6
7. North Dakota
Total reference librarian jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $57,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
8. District of Columbia
Total reference librarian jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $58,379 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 4.44
9. New York
Total reference librarian jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $57,538 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
10. California
Total reference librarian jobs: 57 Average annual salary: $60,961 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
Reference librarian jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a reference librarian
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a reference librarian
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $59,694 | $43,000 | 9,005,644 | 21 |
| 2 | Alaska | $71,033 | $62,000 | 739,795 | 1 |
| 3 | Michigan | $57,348 | $41,000 | 9,962,311 | 11 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,903 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 7 |
| 5 | Nevada | $52,976 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 10 |
| 6 | Oregon | $62,417 | $41,000 | 4,142,776 | 4 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $57,529 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 1 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $58,379 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 12 |
| 9 | New York | $57,538 | $41,000 | 19,849,399 | 27 |
| 10 | California | $60,961 | $39,000 | 39,536,653 | 57 |
| 11 | Washington | $62,212 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 4 |
| 12 | Utah | $57,570 | $39,000 | 3,101,833 | 2 |
| 13 | Maryland | $56,169 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 15 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $51,954 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 16 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $55,727 | $40,000 | 1,920,076 | 2 |
| 16 | Kansas | $48,123 | $34,000 | 2,913,123 | 8 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $53,799 | $36,000 | 2,984,100 | 1 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $52,859 | $39,000 | 6,859,819 | 12 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $51,896 | $38,000 | 5,576,606 | 6 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,030 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $48,369 | $36,000 | 1,342,795 | 7 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $49,644 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 5 |
| 23 | Ohio | $47,752 | $34,000 | 11,658,609 | 10 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $48,060 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 1 |
| 25 | Alabama | $46,329 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 8 |
| 26 | Iowa | $47,354 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 4 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $50,839 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 28 | Texas | $46,764 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 39 |
| 29 | Indiana | $47,403 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 7 |
| 30 | Illinois | $47,465 | $34,000 | 12,802,023 | 24 |
| 31 | Virginia | $47,641 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 22 |
| 32 | Idaho | $49,380 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 1 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $44,969 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 10 |
| 34 | Colorado | $46,496 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 24 |
| 35 | Georgia | $48,516 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 7 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $48,242 | $33,000 | 10,273,419 | 4 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $52,979 | $46,000 | 1,427,538 | 1 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $47,246 | $33,000 | 4,454,189 | 1 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $44,119 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 7 |
| 40 | Montana | $44,743 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 4 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $45,244 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 7 |
| 42 | Vermont | $46,655 | $36,000 | 623,657 | 1 |
| 43 | Missouri | $46,351 | $32,000 | 6,113,532 | 6 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $45,341 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 2 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $42,606 | $30,000 | 579,315 | 1 |
| 46 | Arizona | $42,843 | $28,000 | 7,016,270 | 10 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $42,836 | $31,000 | 869,666 | 1 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $43,353 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 3 |
| 49 | Florida | $42,344 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 24 |
| 50 | Maine | $41,683 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 1 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $41,532 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 1 |
Highest paying states for reference librarians
| Rank | State | Avg. Reference Librarian Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $59,694 |
| 2 | Alaska | $71,033 |
| 3 | Michigan | $57,348 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,903 |
| 5 | Nevada | $52,976 |
| 6 | Oregon | $62,417 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $57,529 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $58,379 |
| 9 | New York | $57,538 |
| 10 | California | $60,961 |
| 11 | Washington | $62,212 |
| 12 | Utah | $57,570 |
| 13 | Maryland | $56,169 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $51,954 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $55,727 |
| 16 | Kansas | $48,123 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $53,799 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $52,859 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $51,896 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,030 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $48,369 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $49,644 |
| 23 | Ohio | $47,752 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $48,060 |
| 25 | Alabama | $46,329 |
| 26 | Iowa | $47,354 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $50,839 |
| 28 | Texas | $46,764 |
| 29 | Indiana | $47,403 |
| 30 | Illinois | $47,465 |
| 31 | Virginia | $47,641 |
| 32 | Idaho | $49,380 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $44,969 |
| 34 | Colorado | $46,496 |
| 35 | Georgia | $48,516 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $48,242 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $52,979 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $47,246 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $44,119 |
| 40 | Montana | $44,743 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $45,244 |
| 42 | Vermont | $46,655 |
| 43 | Missouri | $46,351 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $45,341 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $42,606 |
| 46 | Arizona | $42,843 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $42,836 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $43,353 |
| 49 | Florida | $42,344 |
| 50 | Maine | $41,683 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $41,532 |
Reference librarian best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025