How Much Do Librarians Make?

Q: How much does a librarian make in the US?

The median librarian salary is about $68,270 a year (around $32.82/hour) as of May 2025, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Q: Which type of librarian gets paid the most?

Special/corporate librarians usually earn the most, followed by academic and federal librarians. School and small-town public librarians earn less.

Q: How many years does it take to become a librarian?

About five to six years: a bachelor's degree plus a one-to-two-year master's in library science. School librarians may also need a teaching license.

Q: Do you need a master’s degree to be a librarian?

For most professional librarian jobs, yes: an ALA-accredited MLIS. Technician and assistant roles do not require a master's.

Q: Is being a librarian a good career?

It's stable and rewarding for those who enjoy research and community work, though growth is slow: about 2.6% this decade with ~12,600 openings a year.

The latest federal salary data, which librarians earn the most, and what it takes to get into the field.

By the Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team · Updated September 22, 2026

In this guide

The median librarian salary
Pay by role: librarian vs. technician vs. assistant
Which librarians earn the most?
How to become a librarian (and how long it takes)
Is it a good career?

Quick answer: The median pay for librarians in the US is about $68,270 a year (roughly $32.82 an hour), according to the most recent federal data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Most librarian jobs require a master’s degree, and pay is highest for special/corporate librarians and those at colleges, universities, and federal agencies.

The median librarian salary

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual wage of $68,270 for librarians and media collections specialists as of May 2025 — meaning half earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is a bit higher at about $72,840, which tells you the top of the field pulls the average up. Pay varies widely by employer, region, and role.

Pay by role: librarian vs. technician vs. assistant

“Working at a library” covers several very different jobs and pay levels:

Role	Typical median pay (BLS, May 2025)	Education
Librarian / media collections specialist	$68,270 / year	Master’s degree (MLIS)
Library technician	about $21.43 / hour (~$45,500 / year)	Postsecondary certificate
Library assistant (clerical)	about $17.74 / hour (~$36,900 / year)	High school diploma

Which librarians earn the most?

The federal data and library-career sources point to a consistent pattern. Special or corporate librarians — who run research libraries inside law firms, hospitals, financial companies, and media outlets — tend to earn the most, well above the public-library median. Academic librarians at colleges and universities generally out-earn public-library and school staff, and federal librarians (for example at the Library of Congress or federal agencies) also pay above average. By location, the highest-paying areas are typically the Washington, D.C. region, Maryland, and New York.

How to become a librarian (and how long it takes)

Most professional librarian positions require a Master’s in Library Science (MLS) or Library and Information Science (MLIS), ideally from an ALA-accredited program. That usually means a four-year bachelor’s degree followed by a one-to-two-year master’s — roughly five to six years of higher education in total. Public-school librarians (library media specialists) often also need a state teaching license. Technician and assistant roles, by contrast, don’t require a master’s — a good entry point if you want library work without the graduate degree.

Is it a good career?

Librarianship is stable rather than fast-growing. The BLS projects modest growth of about 2.6% over the 2025–2035 decade, but roughly 12,600 openings per year as people retire or move on. It rewards people who like helping others, research, and community work more than those chasing a high salary. If you’re exploring the field, our companion guide walks through the steps: How to Become a Librarian.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a librarian make in the US?

The median librarian salary is about $68,270 a year (around $32.82 an hour) as of May 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of librarians earn more and half earn less.

Which type of librarian gets paid the most?

Special or corporate librarians (in law firms, hospitals, and companies) typically earn the most, followed by academic librarians at colleges and universities and federal librarians. Public-school and small-town public librarians tend to earn less.

How many years does it take to become a librarian?

About five to six years: a four-year bachelor’s degree plus a one-to-two-year Master’s in Library Science (MLS/MLIS). School librarians may also need a teaching license.

Do you need a master’s degree to be a librarian?

For most professional librarian jobs, yes — an ALA-accredited Master’s in Library and Information Science (MLIS) is the standard credential. Library technician and assistant roles do not require a master’s.

Is being a librarian a good career?

It’s stable and rewarding for people who enjoy research and helping their community, though growth is slow. The BLS projects about 2.6% growth this decade but roughly 12,600 job openings a year from turnover and retirements.

Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team

Public-Libraries.com is an independent, reader-supported directory of every U.S. public library. Our editorial team compiles verified hours, services and resources from official sources — see how we verify our data.