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The average salary for a Bookstore Assistant is $37,861 per year or approximately $18 per hour. This salary can fluctuate depending on various factors such as location, experience, and the type of bookstore. For instance, urban areas might offer higher salaries due to increased cost of living and demand for skilled workers.
Entry-level Bookstore Assistants typically earn lower salaries, while those with more experience can command higher wages. As Bookstore Assistants gain skills in inventory management and customer relations, their value to employers increases, leading to better compensation.
Some of the highest-paying states for Bookstore Assistants include California, New York, and Washington. Additionally, cities like San Francisco and New York City frequently offer competitive salaries due to their vibrant book retail markets. Understanding local salary trends can help job seekers negotiate better pay and find opportunities that match their financial goals.
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The average bookstore assistant salary in Hawaii, California, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average bookstore assistant salary states are Iowa, Ohio, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,579 | $24.80 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $58,889 | $28.31 |
| 3 | Colorado | $47,802 | $22.98 |
| 4 | California | $51,595 | $24.81 |
| 5 | Washington | $47,885 | $23.02 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $41,465 | $19.94 |
| 7 | New York | $41,748 | $20.07 |
| 8 | Oregon | $42,738 | $20.55 |
| 9 | Arizona | $39,295 | $18.89 |
| 10 | Michigan | $40,381 | $19.41 |
| 11 | Utah | $39,393 | $18.94 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $43,836 | $21.07 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $40,879 | $19.65 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $41,257 | $19.84 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $40,503 | $19.47 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $39,676 | $19.07 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $37,548 | $18.05 |
| 18 | Illinois | $39,977 | $19.22 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $40,024 | $19.24 |
| 20 | Florida | $36,562 | $17.58 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $35,496 | $17.07 |
| 22 | Missouri | $39,348 | $18.92 |
| 23 | Nevada | $35,842 | $17.23 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $36,359 | $17.48 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $35,928 | $17.27 |
| 26 | Kansas | $37,591 | $18.07 |
| 27 | Idaho | $35,355 | $17.00 |
| 28 | Virginia | $36,742 | $17.66 |
| 29 | Montana | $34,605 | $16.64 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $39,019 | $18.76 |
| 32 | Alabama | $36,551 | $17.57 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $34,581 | $16.63 |
| 34 | Maryland | $38,708 | $18.61 |
| 35 | Vermont | $36,643 | $17.62 |
| 36 | Delaware | $37,546 | $18.05 |
| 37 | Ohio | $32,630 | $15.69 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $34,876 | $16.77 |
| 39 | Texas | $33,896 | $16.30 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $32,974 | $15.85 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $33,776 | $16.24 |
| 42 | Maine | $34,321 | $16.50 |
| 43 | Iowa | $32,936 | $15.83 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $33,162 | $15.94 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $33,825 | $16.26 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $33,087 | $15.91 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $33,254 | $15.99 |
| 48 | Indiana | $30,856 | $14.83 |
| 49 | Georgia | $31,128 | $14.97 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $31,369 | $15.08 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $31,242 | $15.02 |
The highest-paying cities for bookstore assistants are San Diego, CA, Des Moines, WA, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego, CA | $50,896 | $24.47 |
| 2 | Des Moines, WA | $48,042 | $23.10 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $41,295 | $19.85 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids, MI | $40,454 | $19.45 |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $39,517 | $19.00 |
| 6 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,366 | $18.93 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,265 | $18.88 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $37,368 | $17.97 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,085 | $17.35 |
| 10 | Alexandria, LA | $32,984 | $15.86 |
| 11 | Fayetteville, AR | $31,456 | $15.12 |
A bookstore assistant's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $57,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $37,861 | $3,155 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Top companies hiring bookstore assistants now:
Bookstore assistant salaries at Highline College and San Diego College of Continuing Education are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average bookstore assistant salary at companies like University Of Minnesota Physicians and Tacoma Community College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highline College | $52,960 | $25.46 |
| 2 | San Diego College of Continuing Education | $45,700 | $21.97 |
| 3 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $38,787 | $18.65 |
| 4 | Tacoma Community College | $34,368 | $16.52 |
| 5 | St. Louis Community College | $32,369 | $15.56 |
| 6 | Barnes & Noble | $32,101 | $15.43 |
| 7 | Phoenix Union High School District | $30,487 | $14.66 |
| 8 | Davenport University | $26,620 | $12.80 |
The average bookstore assistant salary has risen by $6,802 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average bookstore assistant earned $31,059 annually, but today, they earn $37,861 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for bookstore assistants over the last decade.
Compare bookstore assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare bookstore assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,900 | $18.20 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $36,700 | $17.66 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $35,700 | $17.16 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $34,700 | $16.67 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $33,900 | $16.31 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Union High School District 210 | SY-Bookstore Assistant Re-Advertised (CC #3719) | Pine, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $34,248 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Bookstore Assistant | Fayetteville, NC | 06/21/2025 | $34,812 |
| Normandale Community College | Office Specialist-Bookstore Assistant | Bloomington, MN | 06/20/2025 | $41,782 |
| Minnesota State | Office Specialist-Bookstore Assistant | Bloomington, MN | 06/18/2025 | $41,782 |
| Southeastern Community College (Ia | Library/Bookstore Assistant-Keokuk Campus-Level 6 | West Burlington, IA | 05/10/2025 | $31,305 |
| Bismarck State College | Bookstore Assistant Temp) | Bismarck, ND | 04/23/2025 | $33,392 |
| North Dakota University System | Bookstore Assistant Temp) | Bismarck, ND | 04/22/2025 | $33,392 |
| Bismarck State College | Bookstore Assistant Temp) | Bismarck, ND | 03/27/2025 | $33,392 |
| North Dakota University System | Bookstore Assistant Temp) | Bismarck, ND | 03/12/2025 | $33,392 |
| Technical College System of Georgia | Asset Management and Bookstore Assistant | Waycross, GA | 02/17/2025 | $36,271 |
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