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Library media specialist salary
Average library media specialist salary
$41,529
Understanding Library Media Specialist Salaries
The current average salary for a Library Media Specialist is $41,529 per year, equating to about $20 per hour. This salary reflects the essential role these specialists play in educational institutions, from managing library resources to providing student support. Various factors influence salary levels, including geographic location, years of experience, and specific job responsibilities.
Salary by State
Library Media Specialists can expect differing salaries depending on where they work. For instance, states such as California and New York typically offer higher wages due to the cost of living and the demand for skilled professionals in these areas. In contrast, states with lower living costs may provide more modest salaries.
Career Advancement Opportunities
As a Library Media Specialist, pursuing further education or certifications can enhance salary prospects. Positions in administrative roles or specialized areas, such as technology integration in libraries, often command higher salaries. Understanding the full scope of salary possibilities helps professionals navigate their career paths effectively.
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Where can a Library Media Specialist earn more?
Library media specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average library media specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for library media specialists are Hawaii, Alaska, and California. The lowest average library media specialist salary states are Alabama, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for library media specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $44,919 | $21.60 |
| 2 | Alaska | $46,997 | $22.59 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $43,349 | $20.84 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $44,680 | $21.48 |
| 5 | Nevada | $43,804 | $21.06 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $40,600 | $19.52 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,709 | $20.05 |
| 8 | Oregon | $43,288 | $20.81 |
| 9 | New York | $44,559 | $21.42 |
| 10 | Michigan | $42,588 | $20.48 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $41,205 | $19.81 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $44,055 | $21.18 |
| 13 | Maryland | $44,417 | $21.35 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $47,133 | $22.66 |
| 15 | Vermont | $40,725 | $19.58 |
| 16 | Idaho | $40,457 | $19.45 |
| 17 | Arizona | $41,672 | $20.03 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $44,227 | $21.26 |
| 20 | Maine | $40,352 | $19.40 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $42,557 | $20.46 |
| 22 | Montana | $39,634 | $19.05 |
| 23 | Ohio | $41,442 | $19.92 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $38,382 | $18.45 |
| 25 | Utah | $39,396 | $18.94 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $40,758 | $19.60 |
| 27 | California | $45,068 | $21.67 |
| 28 | Washington | $42,923 | $20.64 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $38,064 | $18.30 |
| 30 | Iowa | $38,311 | $18.42 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $39,738 | $19.10 |
| 32 | Virginia | $42,904 | $20.63 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $38,865 | $18.69 |
| 34 | Indiana | $39,212 | $18.85 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $40,201 | $19.33 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $37,295 | $17.93 |
| 37 | Texas | $38,946 | $18.72 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $37,600 | $18.08 |
| 39 | Illinois | $39,626 | $19.05 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $37,332 | $17.95 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $38,232 | $18.38 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $38,068 | $18.30 |
| 43 | Florida | $38,224 | $18.38 |
| 44 | Alabama | $37,463 | $18.01 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $37,738 | $18.14 |
| 46 | Kansas | $37,415 | $17.99 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $37,437 | $18.00 |
| 48 | Colorado | $37,836 | $18.19 |
| 49 | Georgia | $37,366 | $17.96 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $37,696 | $18.12 |
| 51 | Missouri | $37,508 | $18.03 |
Highest paying cities for library media specialists
The highest-paying cities for library media specialists are Walnut Creek, CA, New York, NY, and Paterson, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walnut Creek, CA | $45,969 | $22.10 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $44,758 | $21.52 |
| 3 | Paterson, NJ | $44,598 | $21.44 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $44,584 | $21.43 |
| 5 | Bristol, CT | $43,759 | $21.04 |
| 6 | Henderson, NV | $43,577 | $20.95 |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | $42,784 | $20.57 |
| 8 | Nashua, NH | $42,090 | $20.24 |
| 9 | Toledo, OH | $42,070 | $20.23 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $40,226 | $19.34 |
| 11 | Leander, TX | $39,144 | $18.82 |
| 12 | Garden City, KS | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $37,518 | $18.04 |
Library media specialist salary details
A library media specialist's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a library media specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| Average | $41,529 | $3,461 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying library media specialist jobs
The highest paying types of library media specialists are librarian, audio visual secretary, and media specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Librarian | $53,096 | $4,425 | $25.53 | 1,264 |
| Library Technician | $37,757 | $3,146 | $18.15 | 24,941 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for library media specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rowan University
Top companies hiring library media specialists now:
Which companies pay library media specialists the most?
Library media specialist salaries at Montgomery County Public Schools and Scholar Academies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average library media specialist salary at companies like Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES and Nyc Parks are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $51,285 | $24.66 |
| 2 | Scholar Academies | $45,128 | $21.70 |
| 3 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $42,674 | $20.52 |
| 4 | Nyc Parks | $42,202 | $20.29 |
| 5 | Prince George's County Memorial Library System | $41,855 | $20.12 |
| 6 | St. Thomas The Apostle School | $41,835 | $20.11 |
| 7 | Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES - Practical Nursing Program | $38,285 | $18.41 |
| 8 | Rochester City School District | $37,873 | $18.21 |
| 9 | Buffalo Schools | $36,911 | $17.75 |
| 10 | USD 457 Garden City Public Schools | $36,505 | $17.55 |
| 11 | Bristol Public School District | $36,032 | $17.32 |
| 12 | Lancaster School District | $35,835 | $17.23 |
| 13 | Chatham County Schools | $35,156 | $16.90 |
| 14 | Minneapolis Public Schools | $35,145 | $16.90 |
| 15 | Zion Elementary School District 6 | $34,500 | $16.59 |
| 16 | Sussex Co. Public Schools | $33,820 | $16.26 |
| 17 | Wayne RESA | $32,498 | $15.62 |
| 18 | COMMACK SCHOOL DISTRICT | $31,815 | $15.30 |
| 19 | Toledo Public Schools | $30,870 | $14.84 |
| 20 | Leander ISD | $29,172 | $14.03 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Library media specialist salary trends
The average library media specialist salary has risen by $6,674 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average library media specialist earned $34,855 annually, but today, they earn $41,529 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for library media specialists over the last decade.
Compare library media specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average library media specialist salary over time
Compare library media specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Library media specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,500 | $19.97 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $40,100 | $19.28 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $38,800 | $18.64 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $38,000 | $18.26 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $37,400 | $17.98 | +4.1% |
Recently added library media specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moffat County School District | Library Para-Media Specialist | Boone, CO | 06/21/2025 | $36,898 |
| Mypathcompanies | Library & Media Specialist | Oconomowoc, WI | 06/21/2025 | $52,000 |
| Carson City School District | Library Media Specialist | Carson City, NV | 06/20/2025 | $53,283 |
| Sau 6 Public Schools | Media/Library Specialist Teacher | New Hampshire | 06/20/2025 | $45,234 |
| Harrington Park School District | Library/Media Specialist Leave Replacement-September Through October | Demarest, NJ | 06/18/2025 | $56,500 |
| Northern Valley Online Application Consortium | Library/Media Specialist Leave Replacement-September Through October | Downe, NJ | 06/17/2025 | $56,500 |
| Northern Rivers Family of Services | Library Media Specialist | Albany, NY | 06/15/2025 | $60,000 |
| Bedford City School District | Primary Library Media Specialist | Enon, OH | 06/12/2025 | $44,265 |
| Greenfield Public Schools | Library Media Specialist/School Librarian (at) | Greenfield Town, MA | 06/12/2025 | $51,282 |
| Spring Independent School District | Specialist, Library Media School Year) | Houston, TX | 06/12/2025 | $60,500 |
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