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Library manager salary
Average library manager salary
$58,586
Understanding Library Manager Salaries
The average salary for a Library Manager in the United States is approximately $58,586 per year, equating to about $28 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of library (public, academic, or special). For instance, Library Managers in metropolitan areas often earn more due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Salary by Location
State-by-state analysis reveals that Library Managers can command higher salaries in states like California and New York, where the cost of living is elevated. In contrast, positions in areas with lower living costs may offer salaries below the national average. Understanding these dynamics can help aspiring Library Managers make informed career decisions.
Job Opportunities
Library Managers have the opportunity to work across diverse environments, from public libraries to university libraries and special collections. Each setting presents unique challenges and rewards, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and leadership in this field. Exploring job listings can provide insights into the specific requirements and salary expectations for different library management positions.
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Where can a Library Manager earn more?
Library manager salary estimates from across the web
Average library manager salary by state
The average library manager salary in California, Alaska, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average library manager salary states are New Mexico, Maine, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for library managers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $73,921 | $35.54 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $70,839 | $34.06 |
| 3 | Virginia | $71,076 | $34.17 |
| 4 | Utah | $72,336 | $34.78 |
| 5 | Washington | $71,495 | $34.37 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $71,884 | $34.56 |
| 7 | California | $76,977 | $37.01 |
| 8 | Oregon | $74,121 | $35.64 |
| 9 | Michigan | $68,777 | $33.07 |
| 10 | Nevada | $68,155 | $32.77 |
| 11 | Maryland | $66,654 | $32.05 |
| 12 | Alaska | $75,917 | $36.50 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $62,756 | $30.17 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $68,991 | $33.17 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $66,118 | $31.79 |
| 16 | Delaware | $64,181 | $30.86 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $68,416 | $32.89 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $62,965 | $30.27 |
| 19 | Idaho | $65,374 | $31.43 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $66,996 | $32.21 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $62,593 | $30.09 |
| 22 | New York | $66,148 | $31.80 |
| 23 | Ohio | $57,223 | $27.51 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $64,905 | $31.20 |
| 25 | Indiana | $56,196 | $27.02 |
| 26 | Kansas | $57,299 | $27.55 |
| 27 | Illinois | $56,927 | $27.37 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $59,649 | $28.68 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $56,167 | $27.00 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $53,481 | $25.71 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $57,698 | $27.74 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $57,679 | $27.73 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $53,717 | $25.83 |
| 34 | Iowa | $55,727 | $26.79 |
| 35 | Montana | $53,530 | $25.74 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $51,741 | $24.88 |
| 37 | Georgia | $56,253 | $27.04 |
| 38 | Texas | $55,619 | $26.74 |
| 39 | Vermont | $56,700 | $27.26 |
| 40 | Colorado | $53,845 | $25.89 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $53,311 | $25.63 |
| 42 | Missouri | $54,875 | $26.38 |
| 43 | Alabama | $53,555 | $25.75 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $51,630 | $24.82 |
| 45 | Arizona | $52,485 | $25.23 |
| 46 | Florida | $49,704 | $23.90 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $54,926 | $26.41 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $50,462 | $24.26 |
| 49 | Maine | $51,490 | $24.75 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $49,140 | $23.63 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $50,085 | $24.08 |
Highest paying cities for library managers
The highest-paying cities for library managers are San Francisco, CA, Reno, NV, and Salt Lake City, UT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $83,562 | $40.17 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $72,524 | $34.87 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City, UT | $72,211 | $34.72 |
| 4 | Olympia, WA | $71,977 | $34.60 |
| 5 | Norwalk, CT | $71,325 | $34.29 |
| 6 | Apple Valley, MN | $68,385 | $32.88 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $66,432 | $31.94 |
| 8 | Newton, MA | $64,845 | $31.18 |
| 9 | Garland, TX | $56,384 | $27.11 |
| 10 | Saint Louis, MO | $54,954 | $26.42 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $53,875 | $25.90 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $52,060 | $25.03 |
| 13 | Gainesville, FL | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| 14 | Little Rock, AR | $48,977 | $23.55 |
Library manager salary details
A library manager's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $82,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a library manager's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $58,586 | $4,882 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying library manager jobs
The highest paying types of library managers are circulation director, collection management librarian, and music librarian.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Services Librarian | $50,657 | $4,221 | $24.35 | 118,696 |
| Collection Management Librarian | $56,311 | $4,693 | $27.07 | 63,441 |
| 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 managers now:
Which companies pay library managers the most?
Library manager salaries at Amd and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average library manager salary at companies like Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amd | $111,644 | $53.67 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $95,557 | $45.94 |
| 3 | Harvard University | $90,092 | $43.31 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $86,684 | $41.67 |
| 5 | University of Nevada, Reno | $76,909 | $36.98 |
| 6 | City of Houston | $75,397 | $36.25 |
| 7 | City Of Norwalk, Connecticut | $75,109 | $36.11 |
| 8 | Mount Sinai Health System | $70,105 | $33.70 |
| 9 | Practicing Law Institute | $68,101 | $32.74 |
| 10 | PROLIM | $67,569 | $32.49 |
| 11 | University of Houston | $65,670 | $31.57 |
| 12 | Mallinckrodt | $65,012 | $31.26 |
| 13 | Alachua County | $64,391 | $30.96 |
| 14 | UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS | $64,253 | $30.89 |
| 15 | Seyfarth Shaw | $63,996 | $30.77 |
| 16 | Atla | $63,434 | $30.50 |
| 17 | University of Texas System | $62,633 | $30.11 |
| 18 | The University of New Mexico | $61,938 | $29.78 |
| 19 | Timberland Regional Library | $61,387 | $29.51 |
| 20 | City of Austin | $61,346 | $29.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Library Manager salary by industry
The average library manager salary varies across industries:
- The average library manager salary in the health care industry is $71,616, the highest of any industry.
- The average library manager salary in the finance industry is $70,709.
- Library managers in the retail industry earn an average salary of $48,216, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for library managers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $71,616 | $34.43 |
| 2 | Professional | $70,709 | $33.99 |
| 3 | Government | $59,325 | $28.52 |
| 4 | Education | $59,144 | $28.43 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $56,070 | $26.96 |
| 6 | Media | $50,652 | $24.35 |
| 7 | Retail | $48,216 | $23.18 |
High paying library manager jobs
Library manager salary trends
The average library manager salary has risen by $6,784 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average library manager earned $51,802 annually, but today, they earn $58,586 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for library managers over the last decade.
Compare library manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average library manager salary over time
Compare library manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Library manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,600 | $28.17 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $56,500 | $27.15 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $55,300 | $26.59 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $54,800 | $26.35 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $54,000 | $25.98 | +1.4% |
Recently added library manager salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry n Abrams Inc. | Manager, School & Library Sales. | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| City of Mountain View, Ca | Library Manager-Youth, Bookmobile & Collections | Mountain View, CA | 06/17/2025 | $131,102 |
| University System of New Hampshire | Library Manager, Facilities Program Lead | New Hampshire | 06/16/2025 | $56,000 |
| University of New Mexico | Mgr, Library Operations | Albuquerque, NM | 06/11/2025 | $50,835 |
| Harry n Abrams Inc. | Manager, School & Library Sales. | New York, NY | 05/26/2025 | $60,000 |
| Mineral County School District | Library Manager | Nevada | 05/13/2025 | $41,928 |
| Z-Cancelled Pauma Band of Mission Indians | Library Manager | Ione, CA | 05/11/2025 | $68,000 |
| External Applicants | Archives and Library Manager-Astr | Silver Spring, MD | 05/11/2025 | $77,000 |
| Live Oak Public Libraries | Special Collections Library Manager | Savannah, GA | 05/10/2025 | $65,000 |
| The Harold Grinspoon Foundation | Author Stewardship Manager, PJ Library | Agawam Town, MA | 05/05/2025 | $75,000 |
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