Best cities for a research librarian
The best cities for research librarians are Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, and Minneapolis, MN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for research librarians vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for research librarians in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a research librarian or considering a move, this list of the best cities for research librarians to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for research librarians. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a research librarian. While the absolute best city for research librarians is Philadelphia, PA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for research librarians in 2024.
If you're looking for a research librarian job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for research librarians in 2025
1. Philadelphia, PA
Total research librarian jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $63,161 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 20.66 2. Portland, OR
Total research librarian jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $59,115 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location quotient: 12.58 3. Minneapolis, MN
Total research librarian jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $56,438 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 15.15 4. Detroit, MI
Total research librarian jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $57,874 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 6.75 5. Las Vegas, NV
Total research librarian jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $50,154 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 12.12 6. Pittsburgh, PA
Total research librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Virginia Beach, VA
Total research librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,554 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Reno, NV
Total research librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,177 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Anchorage, AK
Total research librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $67,646 Lowest 10 percent warn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Norfolk, VA
Total research librarian jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,393 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for research librarians
- Philadelphia, PA
- Portland, OR
- Minneapolis, MN
- Detroit, MI
- Las Vegas, NV
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Reno, NV
- Anchorage, AK
- Norfolk, VA
- (7 research librarian jobs)
- (3 research librarian jobs)
- (4 research librarian jobs)
- (1 research librarian jobs)
- (2 research librarian jobs)
- (0 research librarian jobs)
- (0 research librarian jobs)
- (0 research librarian jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a research librarian
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,161 | $41,000 | 1,567,872 | 7 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $59,115 | $34,000 | 639,863 | 3 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,438 | $39,000 | 413,651 | 4 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $57,874 | $39,000 | 672,795 | 1 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,154 | $29,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,297 | $40,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 7 | Virginia Beach, VA | $59,554 | $37,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $58,177 | $33,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $67,646 | $57,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 10 | Norfolk, VA | $59,393 | $37,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $47,266 | $29,000 | 458,880 | 3 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $56,472 | $39,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $46,549 | $31,000 | 595,047 | 14 |
| 14 | Jersey City, NJ | $61,240 | $41,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 15 | Chesapeake, VA | $59,110 | $37,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 16 | Newark, NJ | $61,221 | $41,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $45,013 | $30,000 | 385,809 | 3 |
| 18 | Seattle, WA | $58,800 | $35,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $51,782 | $34,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $50,102 | $29,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 21 | Baltimore, MD | $56,728 | $37,000 | 614,664 | 10 |
| 22 | Henderson, NV | $49,723 | $29,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 23 | Lincoln, NE | $51,448 | $33,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 24 | Sacramento, CA | $60,762 | $34,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 25 | Fort Wayne, IN | $47,472 | $31,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 26 | San Francisco, CA | $60,519 | $34,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 27 | Oakland, CA | $60,381 | $34,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $54,321 | $38,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 29 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,144 | $29,000 | 855,164 | 3 |
| 30 | Durham, NC | $47,312 | $29,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 31 | Stockton, CA | $60,154 | $34,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 32 | New York, NY | $55,725 | $37,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 33 | Arlington, TX | $44,335 | $26,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 34 | Hempstead, NY | $55,748 | $37,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 35 | Fremont, CA | $59,691 | $33,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 36 | Islip, NY | $55,690 | $37,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 37 | Oyster Bay, NY | $55,640 | $37,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 38 | Lexington, KY | $44,990 | $28,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 39 | Brookhaven, NY | $55,563 | $37,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 40 | Washington, DC | $58,456 | $37,000 | 681,170 | 5 |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $46,785 | $29,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 42 | San Jose, CA | $59,053 | $33,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 43 | Toledo, OH | $44,184 | $29,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 44 | Louisville, KY | $44,515 | $28,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,510 | $29,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 46 | Columbus, OH | $43,007 | $28,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $42,116 | $26,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 48 | Charlotte, NC | $45,388 | $28,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 49 | El Paso, TX | $44,936 | $26,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $45,925 | $31,000 | 252,551 | - |
Highest paying cities for research librarians
| Rank | City | Avg. research librarian salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,161 |
| 2 | McLean, VA | $61,363 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $59,115 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $58,800 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $58,456 |
| 6 | Carson City, NV | $58,123 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $56,728 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,438 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $55,725 |
| 10 | Dover, DE | $54,572 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $54,321 |
| 12 | Bismarck, ND | $54,107 |
| 13 | Concord, NH | $50,116 |
| 14 | Fullerton, CA | $49,903 |
| 15 | Morgantown, WV | $48,901 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $47,266 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $46,549 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,144 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $45,033 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $45,013 |
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Updated January 8, 2025