Library Technician salary in the U.S.
Library Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $44,580 a year ($21.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 68,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,080 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $45,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for library technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| 25th percentile | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Median | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| 75th percentile | $52,430 | $25.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,080 | $30.33 |
| Average (mean) | $45,500 | $21.88 |
Half of library technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,715 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,857.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,714.62 |
| Weekly | $857.31 |
| Hourly | $21.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Library Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $62,570 | 1,850 |
| District of Columbia | $61,040 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $57,060 | 930 |
| California | $53,260 | 7,190 |
| Minnesota | $51,110 | 1,180 |
| Hawaii | $50,870 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $50,430 | 1,910 |
| Vermont | $50,090 | 150 |
| New York | $50,060 | 3,390 |
| Oregon | $49,970 | 1,810 |
| Maryland | $48,920 | 1,980 |
| New Jersey | $48,840 | 1,060 |
| Rhode Island | $48,740 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $48,650 | 280 |
| Delaware | $47,580 | 210 |
| Illinois | $47,120 | 2,140 |
| Alaska | $46,940 | 220 |
| Colorado | $46,680 | 2,250 |
| North Carolina | $46,520 | 2,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,100 | 1,560 |
| Nevada | $45,650 | 410 |
| Virginia | $45,560 | 2,580 |
| Maine | $44,520 | 320 |
| Kansas | $41,960 | 480 |
| Florida | $41,080 | 3,070 |
| Arizona | $40,510 | 820 |
| Utah | $40,160 | 310 |
| North Dakota | $39,240 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $39,180 | 1,410 |
| Missouri | $39,160 | 1,360 |
| New Mexico | $38,830 | 540 |
| Texas | $38,640 | 5,180 |
| Iowa | $38,590 | 1,510 |
| Montana | $38,220 | 370 |
| Ohio | $37,920 | 4,020 |
| Georgia | $37,320 | 2,130 |
| Alabama | $37,150 | 390 |
| Nebraska | $36,920 | 710 |
| Tennessee | $36,400 | 390 |
| South Carolina | $36,070 | 650 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,890 | 250 |
| Kentucky | $35,700 | 670 |
| Indiana | $35,560 | 1,470 |
| Wisconsin | $35,000 | 2,890 |
| Michigan | $34,680 | 2,180 |
| Idaho | $34,510 | 520 |
| West Virginia | $30,300 | 280 |
| South Dakota | $29,590 | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $29,440 | 830 |
| Arkansas | $28,570 | 390 |
| Mississippi | $27,080 | 270 |
| Wyoming | $26,850 | 400 |
Best-paying metro areas for library technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $65,690 | 1,290 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $65,630 | 60 |
| New Haven, CT | $63,970 | 230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $63,690 | 730 |
| Yakima, WA | $63,270 | 40 |
| Ithaca, NY | $62,960 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,550 | 310 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $61,960 | 50 |
| Rochester, MN | $61,750 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $61,720 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,470 | 160 |
| Iowa City, IA | $61,300 | 90 |
| Syracuse, NY | $58,520 | 180 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $58,380 | 360 |
| Bellingham, WA | $57,990 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most library technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,850 | $52,040 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,060 | $57,290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,940 | $49,980 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,520 | $47,100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,510 | $40,740 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,350 | $39,390 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,290 | $57,330 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,290 | $65,690 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,220 | $37,270 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 990 | $57,050 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 930 | $46,900 |
| Cleveland, OH | 920 | $45,420 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 900 | $48,090 |
| Columbus, OH | 870 | $39,070 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 870 | $47,180 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $68,270 | $32.82 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Curator | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Archivist | $64,550 | $31.03 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,780 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,970 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,370 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $65,120 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | — |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a library technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for library technicians in the U.S. is $44,580 a year, or $21.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid library technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of library technicians in the U.S. earn at least $63,080 a year. The top 25% earn $52,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for library technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,300 a year, and a quarter of library technicians earn $35,740 or less.
How many library technicians work in the U.S.?
About 68,690 library technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.