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Reference librarian salary
Average reference librarian salary
$50,409
Understanding Reference Librarian Salaries
The average salary for a Reference Librarian in the United States is approximately $50,409 per year. This figure can vary based on multiple factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For instance, Reference Librarians working in metropolitan areas often earn more due to higher living costs and increased demand for library services.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher, reflecting the cost of living and the concentration of educational institutions. Entry-level positions may start lower, but experienced librarians can command salaries exceeding $60,000. Additionally, specialized roles within academic or corporate libraries might offer competitive compensation.
Career Advancement
Pursuing certifications or advanced degrees can further enhance earning potential and open doors to leadership roles within library systems. Networking and continuing education are essential for career growth in this evolving field. If you’re considering a career as a Reference Librarian, understanding these salary dynamics will help you make informed decisions about your future.
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Where can a Reference Librarian earn more?
Reference librarian salary estimates from across the web
Average reference librarian salary by state
The highest-paying states for reference librarians are Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. The lowest average reference librarian salary states are Arizona, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for reference librarians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $59,694 | $28.70 |
| 2 | Alaska | $71,033 | $34.15 |
| 3 | Michigan | $57,348 | $27.57 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,903 | $27.84 |
| 5 | Nevada | $52,976 | $25.47 |
| 6 | Oregon | $62,417 | $30.01 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $57,529 | $27.66 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $58,379 | $28.07 |
| 9 | New York | $57,538 | $27.66 |
| 10 | California | $60,961 | $29.31 |
| 11 | Washington | $62,212 | $29.91 |
| 12 | Utah | $57,570 | $27.68 |
| 13 | Maryland | $56,169 | $27.00 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $51,954 | $24.98 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $55,727 | $26.79 |
| 16 | Kansas | $48,123 | $23.14 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $53,799 | $25.86 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $52,859 | $25.41 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $51,896 | $24.95 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,030 | $25.98 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $48,369 | $23.25 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $49,644 | $23.87 |
| 23 | Ohio | $47,752 | $22.96 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $48,060 | $23.11 |
| 25 | Alabama | $46,329 | $22.27 |
| 26 | Iowa | $47,354 | $22.77 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $50,839 | $24.44 |
| 28 | Texas | $46,764 | $22.48 |
| 29 | Indiana | $47,403 | $22.79 |
| 30 | Illinois | $47,465 | $22.82 |
| 31 | Virginia | $47,641 | $22.90 |
| 32 | Idaho | $49,380 | $23.74 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $44,969 | $21.62 |
| 34 | Colorado | $46,496 | $22.35 |
| 35 | Georgia | $48,516 | $23.32 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $48,242 | $23.19 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $52,979 | $25.47 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $47,246 | $22.71 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $44,119 | $21.21 |
| 40 | Montana | $44,743 | $21.51 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $45,244 | $21.75 |
| 42 | Vermont | $46,655 | $22.43 |
| 43 | Missouri | $46,351 | $22.28 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $45,341 | $21.80 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $42,606 | $20.48 |
| 46 | Arizona | $42,843 | $20.60 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $42,836 | $20.59 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $43,353 | $20.84 |
| 49 | Florida | $42,344 | $20.36 |
| 50 | Maine | $41,683 | $20.04 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $41,532 | $19.97 |
Highest paying cities for reference librarians
The highest-paying cities for reference librarians are Anchorage, AK, San Francisco, CA, and Bellevue, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $70,944 | $34.11 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $67,634 | $32.52 |
| 3 | Bellevue, WA | $62,672 | $30.13 |
| 4 | Eugene, OR | $62,387 | $29.99 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $59,551 | $28.63 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $58,359 | $28.06 |
| 7 | New Haven, CT | $58,088 | $27.93 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $57,805 | $27.79 |
| 9 | Ann Arbor, MI | $57,403 | $27.60 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $55,792 | $26.82 |
| 11 | Springfield, MA | $54,016 | $25.97 |
| 12 | Providence, RI | $50,767 | $24.41 |
| 13 | Nashua, NH | $48,955 | $23.54 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $48,819 | $23.47 |
| 15 | Leesburg, VA | $48,316 | $23.23 |
| 16 | Naperville, IL | $47,462 | $22.82 |
| 17 | Georgetown, TX | $46,902 | $22.55 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $46,562 | $22.39 |
| 19 | Saint Louis, MO | $46,335 | $22.28 |
| 20 | Knoxville, TN | $45,542 | $21.90 |
Reference librarian salary details
A reference librarian's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a reference librarian's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $50,409 | $4,201 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying reference librarian jobs
The highest paying types of reference 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 |
| Instruction Librarian | $50,234 | $4,186 | $24.15 | 1,276 |
| Technical Services Librarian | $50,657 | $4,221 | $24.35 | 118,696 |
| Librarian | $53,096 | $4,425 | $25.53 | 1,264 |
| Youth Services Librarian | $49,971 | $4,164 | $24.02 | 55,418 |
| Children's Librarian | $49,900 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 9,834 |
Top companies hiring reference librarians now:
Which companies pay reference librarians the most?
Reference librarian salaries at Yale University and Mayer Brown are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average reference librarian salary at companies like Northern California Power Agency and Nova Southeastern University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yale University | $82,092 | $39.47 |
| 2 | Mayer Brown | $78,984 | $37.97 |
| 3 | Northern California Power Agency | $77,304 | $37.17 |
| 4 | Nova Southeastern University | $72,750 | $34.98 |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $70,337 | $33.82 |
| 6 | Pace University | $70,105 | $33.70 |
| 7 | Mercy College | $66,824 | $32.13 |
| 8 | Loyola Marymount University | $66,202 | $31.83 |
| 9 | Gallaudet University | $65,526 | $31.50 |
| 10 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $64,731 | $31.12 |
| 11 | Curry College | $64,473 | $31.00 |
| 12 | Brown University | $62,479 | $30.04 |
| 13 | Skidmore College | $62,364 | $29.98 |
| 14 | Nebraska Methodist Health System | $62,128 | $29.87 |
| 15 | Post University, Inc. | $62,097 | $29.85 |
| 16 | University at Albany | $60,741 | $29.20 |
| 17 | ASRC Federal | $60,624 | $29.15 |
| 18 | Georgetown University | $59,779 | $28.74 |
| 19 | Saint Louis University | $58,276 | $28.02 |
| 20 | Nashua Country Club | $58,122 | $27.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Reference librarian salary trends
The average reference librarian salary has risen by $5,838 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average reference librarian earned $44,571 annually, but today, they earn $50,409 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for reference librarians over the last decade.
Compare reference librarian salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average reference librarian salary over time
Compare reference librarian salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Reference librarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,400 | $24.23 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $48,600 | $23.36 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $47,600 | $22.88 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $47,200 | $22.68 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $46,500 | $22.35 | +1.4% |
Recently added reference librarian salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hofstra University | Reference Librarian | Hempstead, NY | 06/28/2025 | $82,000 |
| University of Arkansas System | Outreach/Reference Librarian | Little Rock, AR | 06/26/2025 | $42,000 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Reference Librarian | Springfield, MA | 06/21/2025 | $74,089 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Reference Librarian-Law Library Open Rank Professor | Lincoln, NE | 06/20/2025 | $60,000 |
| American University | Reference Librarian | Washington, DC | 06/13/2025 | $78,000 |
| California Western School of Law | Reference Librarian | San Diego, CA | 06/10/2025 | $65,000 |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Evening Reference Librarian | Princess Anne, MD | 06/05/2025 | $55,000 |
| State of Virginia | Reference Librarian and Bibliographic Instructor | Pulaski, VA | 06/04/2025 | $52,175 |
| Portage County District Library | Substitute Reference Librarian | Garrettsville, OH | 05/27/2025 | $35,103 |
| Southwestern Law School | Reference Librarian (Hybrid) | Los Angeles, CA | 05/27/2025 | $100,000 |
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