How much does a librarian make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $5,689 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $4,715
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 1.3 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 144 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $100,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $99,450 |
| 2. Luxembourg estimate | $81,640 |
| 3. Iceland estimate | $71,150 |
| 4. Germany | $68,760 |
| 5. United States | $68,270 |
| 6. Qatar estimate | $66,560 |
| 144. Nigeria estimate | $357 |
Similar jobs
Professionals
- Museum curator$63,870
- Lawyer$159,700
- Judge$139,400
- Legal professionals not elsewhere classified$75,530
- Economist$124,700
- Anthropologist$80,530
- Historian$106,300
- Psychologist$100,400
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| Washington | $100,000 |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 |
| California | $89,790 |
| Maryland | $88,570 |
| Nevada | $84,540 |
| Connecticut | $79,210 |
| Alaska | $78,810 |
| New York | $78,590 |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 |
| New Jersey | $78,380 |
See all 51 states
| Oregon | $78,070 |
| Delaware | $77,700 |
| Minnesota | $77,650 |
| Virginia | $77,430 |
| Georgia | $76,750 |
| Colorado | $76,480 |
| Rhode Island | $75,860 |
| Texas | $71,860 |
| Hawaii | $68,270 |
| Florida | $67,060 |
| Wisconsin | $66,870 |
| Kentucky | $65,200 |
| Alabama | $64,650 |
| Nebraska | $64,060 |
| Montana | $63,870 |
| New Hampshire | $63,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,880 |
| North Dakota | $62,830 |
| Illinois | $62,700 |
| South Carolina | $62,640 |
| New Mexico | $62,530 |
| Vermont | $62,360 |
| Tennessee | $62,090 |
| Kansas | $61,900 |
| North Carolina | $61,420 |
| Louisiana | $60,650 |
| Ohio | $60,630 |
| Arizona | $60,500 |
| Michigan | $60,010 |
| Maine | $59,540 |
| Missouri | $58,700 |
| Iowa | $58,440 |
| Oklahoma | $58,180 |
| Mississippi | $56,970 |
| Arkansas | $56,800 |
| Idaho | $54,130 |
| Utah | $53,730 |
| Indiana | $53,500 |
| South Dakota | $51,210 |
| Wyoming | $46,530 |
| West Virginia | $42,980 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a librarian make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $5,689 a month, $68,270 a year.
How much does a librarian make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $43,660 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $104,000.
Which country pays a librarian the most?
Germany, with a median of $68,760 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a librarian the most?
Washington, with a median of $100,000 a year.
Does a librarian make more in the United States or in Germany?
In Germany: $68,760 a year against $68,270 in the United States, 1.0 times more.
Who makes more, a librarian or a museum curator?
A librarian: $68,270 a year against $63,870 for a museum curator, 1.1 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate