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Law librarian salary
Average law librarian salary
$51,708
Understanding the Law Librarian Salary Landscape
As of October 2025, the average Law Librarian salary stands at $51,708 per year. Salaries can vary widely based on several factors, including geographic location, experience, and the specific industry in which a librarian works. For instance, law librarians in metropolitan areas tend to earn more due to higher demand and cost of living adjustments.
Exploring Salary Variations by State
In states with a high concentration of law firms, such as California and New York, salaries can be significantly higher than the national average. Conversely, rural areas may offer lower compensation due to reduced demand. Additionally, experience plays a critical role; those with advanced degrees or specialized skills can command higher salaries.
Opportunities for Professional Growth
Aside from base salaries, law librarians often enjoy benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development. Many organizations also value continuing education, allowing librarians to enhance their skills and advance their careers.
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Where can a Law Librarian earn more?
Law librarian salary estimates from across the web
Average law librarian salary by state
The average law librarian salary in Alaska, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average law librarian salary states are South Dakota, Louisiana, and Arizona.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for law librarians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $69,133 | $33.24 |
| 2 | Virginia | $60,835 | $29.25 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $62,380 | $29.99 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $64,000 | $30.77 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $56,897 | $27.35 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $59,745 | $28.72 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| 8 | Michigan | $58,355 | $28.06 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $61,363 | $29.50 |
| 10 | Washington | $59,368 | $28.54 |
| 11 | New York | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| 12 | Oregon | $60,639 | $29.15 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $51,119 | $24.58 |
| 14 | California | $55,481 | $26.67 |
| 15 | Nevada | $51,924 | $24.96 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $51,878 | $24.94 |
| 17 | Maryland | $57,862 | $27.82 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $55,176 | $26.53 |
| 19 | Utah | $54,343 | $26.13 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $47,758 | $22.96 |
| 21 | Idaho | $50,241 | $24.15 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $54,336 | $26.12 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| 24 | Delaware | $55,683 | $26.77 |
| 25 | Iowa | $44,822 | $21.55 |
| 26 | Illinois | $47,080 | $22.63 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $42,986 | $20.67 |
| 28 | Hawaii | $49,115 | $23.61 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $49,444 | $23.77 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $46,908 | $22.55 |
| 31 | Kansas | $43,691 | $21.01 |
| 32 | Vermont | $49,223 | $23.66 |
| 33 | Ohio | $44,007 | $21.16 |
| 34 | Texas | $43,198 | $20.77 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $39,374 | $18.93 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $40,319 | $19.38 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $44,658 | $21.47 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $42,014 | $20.20 |
| 39 | Georgia | $44,887 | $21.58 |
| 40 | Indiana | $43,175 | $20.76 |
| 41 | Alabama | $42,344 | $20.36 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $39,401 | $18.94 |
| 43 | Florida | $40,770 | $19.60 |
| 44 | Arizona | $39,864 | $19.17 |
| 45 | Colorado | $40,900 | $19.66 |
| 46 | Montana | $41,319 | $19.86 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $41,165 | $19.79 |
| 48 | Maine | $44,324 | $21.31 |
| 49 | Missouri | $42,257 | $20.32 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $40,148 | $19.30 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $37,846 | $18.20 |
Highest paying cities for law librarians
The highest-paying cities for law librarians are Philadelphia, PA, San Francisco, CA, and Plymouth, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,365 | $30.94 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $63,848 | $30.70 |
| 3 | Plymouth, MA | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, CT | $61,686 | $29.66 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $60,674 | $29.17 |
| 6 | Central Islip, NY | $56,699 | $27.26 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $46,908 | $22.55 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $44,956 | $21.61 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $43,432 | $20.88 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $43,126 | $20.73 |
| 11 | Coral Gables, FL | $40,990 | $19.71 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,969 | $19.22 |
Law librarian salary details
A law librarian's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a law librarian's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $51,708 | $4,309 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying law librarian jobs
The highest paying types of law librarians are circulation director, library manager, and collection management librarian.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collection Management Librarian | $56,311 | $4,693 | $27.07 | 63,441 |
| Technical Services Librarian | $50,657 | $4,221 | $24.35 | 118,696 |
| Youth Services Librarian | $49,971 | $4,164 | $24.02 | 55,418 |
| Instruction Librarian | $50,234 | $4,186 | $24.15 | 1,276 |
| Children's Librarian | $49,900 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 9,834 |
| Reference Librarian | $50,409 | $4,201 | $24.23 | 1,058 |
Top companies hiring law librarians now:
Which companies pay law librarians the most?
Law librarian salaries at Northeastern University and Northern California Power Agency are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average law librarian salary at companies like UMiami Health System and Kent Daniels & Associates are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University | $79,425 | $38.19 |
| 2 | Northern California Power Agency | $77,942 | $37.47 |
| 3 | UMiami Health System | $73,585 | $35.38 |
| 4 | Kent Daniels & Associates | $72,612 | $34.91 |
| 5 | Cornell University | $70,354 | $33.82 |
| 6 | Emory University | $69,445 | $33.39 |
| 7 | Florida International University | $67,988 | $32.69 |
| 8 | Touro College | $66,035 | $31.75 |
| 9 | Emory Healthcare | $60,082 | $28.89 |
| 10 | Golden Gate University | $57,052 | $27.43 |
| 11 | Marquette University | $55,929 | $26.89 |
| 12 | Ave Maria School of Law | $54,100 | $26.01 |
| 13 | Capital University | $53,052 | $25.51 |
| 14 | Skagit County | $52,398 | $25.19 |
| 15 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | $51,103 | $24.57 |
| 16 | University of Pennsylvania | $47,638 | $22.90 |
| 17 | Maricopa County | $44,915 | $21.59 |
| 18 | St. Mary's University | $43,779 | $21.05 |
| 19 | Texas Department of Transportation | $37,561 | $18.06 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Law Librarian salary by industry
The average law librarian salary varies across industries:
- The average law librarian salary in the professional industry is $66,443, the highest of any industry.
- The average law librarian salary in the finance industry is $49,345.
- Law librarians in the government industry earn an average salary of $41,316, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for law librarians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $66,443 | $31.94 |
| 2 | Telecommunication | $49,345 | $23.72 |
| 3 | Education | $46,925 | $22.56 |
| 4 | Government | $41,316 | $19.86 |
High paying law librarian jobs
Law librarian salary trends
The average law librarian salary has risen by $5,987 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average law librarian earned $45,721 annually, but today, they earn $51,708 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for law librarians over the last decade.
Compare law librarian salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average law librarian salary over time
Compare law librarian salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Law librarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $51,700 | $24.86 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $49,800 | $23.97 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $48,800 | $23.47 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $48,400 | $23.26 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $47,700 | $22.93 | +1.4% |
Recently added law librarian salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota | Law Practice and Technology Librarian | Minneapolis, MN | 06/24/2025 | $100,000 |
| State of New York | Law Librarian | Albany, NY | 06/05/2025 | $65,000 |
| St. Louis County (Mo | Special Law Librarian | Clayton, MO | 05/16/2025 | $41,740 |
| Collin County, Tx | Law Librarian | McKinney, TX | 04/15/2025 | $66,948 |
| Stanford University | Collection Strategist Librarian, Stanford Law School | Stanford, CA | 03/29/2025 | $81,546 |
| Texas Department of Criminal Justice | Librarian II-Unit Law Librarian | Palestine, TX | 03/19/2025 | $49,246 |
| Texas Department of Criminal Justice | Librarian III-Unit Law Librarian | Dalhart, TX | 02/20/2025 | $55,462 |
| Study Select | Law Librarian | Ione, WA | 02/18/2025 | $52,988 |
| Massgenics, Inc. | Law Librarian-Legal-Analysts | Syracuse, NY | 02/17/2025 | $60,000 |
| Massachusetts Court System | Circuit Law Librarian-Northeast (Lawrence Law Library) | Lawrence, MA | 01/28/2025 | $82,165 |
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