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Library director salary
Average library director salary
$44,750
Average Library Director Salary
The average salary for a Library Director is approximately $44,750 per year. This figure can vary widely based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific responsibilities of the position. For example, library directors in metropolitan areas or large institutions often earn more than those in smaller communities.
Salary by State
Different states offer varying salary scales for library directors. For instance, states with higher living costs might present higher salaries. Here are some of the highest paying states for library directors:
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Florida
- Illinois
Additionally, experience plays a significant role in determining salary. Directors with several years of experience may command higher salaries compared to those just starting their careers. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for individuals aiming to advance in library management or seeking to negotiate their salaries effectively.
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Where can a Library Director earn more?
Library director salary estimates from across the web
Average library director salary by state
The highest-paying states for library directors are Alaska, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The lowest average library director salary states are Colorado, Idaho, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for library directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $58,462 | $28.11 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $56,348 | $27.09 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $56,693 | $27.26 |
| 4 | Alaska | $65,094 | $31.30 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $50,515 | $24.29 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $44,779 | $21.53 |
| 7 | Michigan | $52,908 | $25.44 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $47,149 | $22.67 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $48,328 | $23.23 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $48,985 | $23.55 |
| 11 | Maryland | $54,738 | $26.32 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $50,346 | $24.20 |
| 13 | Delaware | $52,767 | $25.37 |
| 14 | Oregon | $47,279 | $22.73 |
| 15 | Nevada | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $44,686 | $21.48 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $47,521 | $22.85 |
| 18 | New York | $45,178 | $21.72 |
| 19 | Virginia | $45,977 | $22.10 |
| 20 | California | $46,392 | $22.30 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $47,787 | $22.97 |
| 22 | Washington | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| 23 | Alabama | $40,517 | $19.48 |
| 24 | Georgia | $42,415 | $20.39 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $40,705 | $19.57 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $43,227 | $20.78 |
| 27 | Texas | $42,523 | $20.44 |
| 28 | Ohio | $43,780 | $21.05 |
| 29 | Utah | $44,278 | $21.29 |
| 30 | Illinois | $42,138 | $20.26 |
| 31 | Vermont | $42,289 | $20.33 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $39,761 | $19.12 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $45,106 | $21.69 |
| 34 | Indiana | $41,357 | $19.88 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $40,814 | $19.62 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $37,312 | $17.94 |
| 37 | Iowa | $38,708 | $18.61 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $33,628 | $16.17 |
| 39 | Arizona | $38,445 | $18.48 |
| 40 | Colorado | $35,819 | $17.22 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 42 | Missouri | $37,427 | $17.99 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $43,091 | $20.72 |
| 44 | Florida | $38,787 | $18.65 |
| 45 | Kansas | $38,403 | $18.46 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $38,261 | $18.39 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| 48 | Maine | $38,087 | $18.31 |
| 49 | Montana | $32,097 | $15.43 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $31,355 | $15.07 |
| 51 | Idaho | $35,223 | $16.93 |
Highest paying cities for library directors
The highest-paying cities for library directors are Hoboken, NJ, Detroit, MI, and Ramsey, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hoboken, NJ | $58,204 | $27.98 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $53,261 | $25.61 |
| 3 | Ramsey, MN | $50,358 | $24.21 |
| 4 | Rancho Cordova, CA | $49,198 | $23.65 |
| 5 | Eugene, OR | $48,342 | $23.24 |
| 6 | Brookline, MA | $48,153 | $23.15 |
| 7 | Oshkosh, WI | $47,381 | $22.78 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $45,578 | $21.91 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $45,535 | $21.89 |
| 10 | Lynchburg, VA | $44,034 | $21.17 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $43,424 | $20.88 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $43,357 | $20.84 |
| 13 | Kokomo, IN | $41,671 | $20.03 |
| 14 | Baton Rouge, LA | $40,026 | $19.24 |
| 15 | Lebanon, TN | $38,652 | $18.58 |
| 16 | Cape Girardeau, MO | $38,295 | $18.41 |
| 17 | Clovis, NM | $37,969 | $18.25 |
| 18 | Edmond, OK | $37,314 | $17.94 |
Library director salary details
A library director's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $69,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a library director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $44,750 | $3,729 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying library director jobs
The highest paying types of library directors are director, circulation director, and library manager.
| 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 |
| Children's Librarian | $49,900 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 9,834 |
| Reference Librarian | $50,409 | $4,201 | $24.23 | 1,058 |
| Research Librarian | $51,263 | $4,272 | $24.65 | 45,828 |
Top companies hiring library directors now:
Which companies pay library directors the most?
Library director salaries at University of California, Berkeley and Nebraska Methodist Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average library director salary at companies like State University of New York at Oswego and MSU Northern are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $94,025 | $45.20 |
| 2 | Nebraska Methodist Health System | $71,524 | $34.39 |
| 3 | State University of New York at Oswego | $64,234 | $30.88 |
| 4 | MSU Northern | $62,951 | $30.26 |
| 5 | University of Central Oklahoma | $59,591 | $28.65 |
| 6 | LA State University Continuing | $59,064 | $28.40 |
| 7 | Illinois College | $58,611 | $28.18 |
| 8 | The Art Institute Of Houston | $57,713 | $27.75 |
| 9 | Ramsey County | $57,457 | $27.62 |
| 10 | Library Systems & Services | $56,548 | $27.19 |
| 11 | Aaniiih Nakoda College | $56,220 | $27.03 |
| 12 | Ivy Tech Community College | $55,082 | $26.48 |
| 13 | The New York Public Library | $54,768 | $26.33 |
| 14 | Southeast Missouri State University | $54,442 | $26.17 |
| 15 | City of Muscatine | $53,698 | $25.82 |
| 16 | Atla | $50,746 | $24.40 |
| 17 | Clovis Community College | $50,156 | $24.11 |
| 18 | Cleveland Museum Of Art | $48,506 | $23.32 |
| 19 | Concordia University Irvine | $47,727 | $22.95 |
| 20 | City of Cohoes | $45,921 | $22.08 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Library director salary trends
The average library director salary has risen by $5,182 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average library director earned $39,568 annually, but today, they earn $44,750 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for library directors over the last decade.
Compare library director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average library director salary over time
Compare library director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Library director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $44,700 | $21.51 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $43,100 | $20.74 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $42,300 | $20.31 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $41,900 | $20.13 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $41,300 | $19.84 | +1.4% |
Recently added library director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City University of Seattle | Director, Library Services-City University of Seattle | Seattle, WA | 06/17/2025 | $85,000 |
| Details | Library Director | Bowne, MI | 06/14/2025 | $90,000 |
| AMDA | Director of Library Services | New York, NY | 06/11/2025 | $70,000 |
| AMDA College | Director of Library Services | New York, NY | 06/03/2025 | $70,000 |
| Northwestern University | Director of The Charles Deering Mccormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives | Evanston, IL | 05/28/2025 | $105,000 |
| Town of Charlton | Assistant Library Director/Head of Adult Services | Charlton, MA | 05/25/2025 | $62,504 |
| Cedar City | Library Director | Cedar City, UT | 05/23/2025 | $84,498 |
| Shawano County | Library-Library Director | Shawano, WI | 05/22/2025 | $88,546 |
| Hampshire College | Director of The Library | Amherst, MA | 05/18/2025 | $90,000 |
| University of Arkansas System | Director of Library & Textbook Rental | Hope, AR | 05/14/2025 | $55,000 |
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