SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 25-4031.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $29,300 | $2,442 | $563 | $14.09 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $35,740 | $2,978 | $687 | $17.18 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $44,580 | $3,715 | $857 | $21.43 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $52,430 | $4,369 | $1,008 | $25.21 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $63,080 | $5,257 | $1,213 | $30.33 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Library Technicians is $44,580, which is 13% lower. Among the 64 occupations of the field Educational Instruction and Library, it ranks number 59 by median pay. With 68,690 jobs, it makes up about 4.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Library Technicians pay by state
The highest median pay was in Washington ($62,570), District of Columbia ($61,040) and Connecticut ($57,060). The lowest was in Wyoming ($26,850), Mississippi ($27,080) and Arkansas ($28,570). The most jobs were in California (7,190), Texas (5,180) and Ohio (4,020). The occupation is most concentrated in South Dakota, where its share of all jobs is 3.2 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1,850 | $62,570 | $64,550 | $30.08 |
| District of Columbia | 390 | $61,040 | $62,300 | $29.35 |
| Connecticut | 930 | $57,060 | $57,550 | $27.43 |
| California | 7,190 | $53,260 | $56,050 | $25.61 |
| Minnesota | 1,180 | $51,110 | $51,930 | $24.57 |
| Hawaii | 110 | $50,870 | $50,780 | $24.46 |
| Massachusetts | 1,910 | $50,430 | $53,100 | $24.24 |
| Vermont | 150 | $50,090 | $50,590 | $24.08 |
| New York | 3,390 | $50,060 | $54,550 | $24.07 |
| Oregon | 1,810 | $49,970 | $51,890 | $24.02 |
| Maryland | 1,980 | $48,920 | $53,100 | $23.52 |
| New Jersey | 1,060 | $48,840 | $50,200 | $23.48 |
| Rhode Island | 160 | $48,740 | $50,120 | $23.43 |
| New Hampshire | 280 | $48,650 | $47,750 | $23.39 |
| Delaware | 210 | $47,580 | $47,420 | $22.88 |
| Illinois | 2,140 | $47,120 | $48,950 | $22.66 |
| Alaska | 220 | $46,940 | $48,760 | $22.57 |
| Colorado | 2,250 | $46,680 | $45,980 | $22.44 |
| North Carolina | 2,350 | $46,520 | $44,430 | $22.37 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,560 | $46,100 | $45,770 | $22.16 |
| Nevada | 410 | $45,650 | $44,770 | $21.95 |
| Virginia | 2,580 | $45,560 | $46,120 | $21.90 |
| Maine | 320 | $44,520 | $45,250 | $21.41 |
| Kansas | 480 | $41,960 | $42,640 | $20.17 |
| Florida | 3,070 | $41,080 | $43,830 | $19.75 |
| Arizona | 820 | $40,510 | $42,690 | $19.48 |
| Utah | 310 | $40,160 | $40,710 | $19.31 |
| North Dakota | 370 | $39,240 | $41,950 | $18.87 |
| Louisiana | 1,410 | $39,180 | $41,760 | $18.84 |
| Missouri | 1,360 | $39,160 | $40,010 | $18.83 |
| New Mexico | 540 | $38,830 | $41,780 | $18.67 |
| Texas | 5,180 | $38,640 | $39,680 | $18.58 |
| Iowa | 1,510 | $38,590 | $41,600 | $18.55 |
| Montana | 370 | $38,220 | $40,030 | $18.37 |
| Ohio | 4,020 | $37,920 | $40,100 | $18.23 |
| Georgia | 2,130 | $37,320 | $37,180 | $17.94 |
| Alabama | 390 | $37,150 | $37,780 | $17.86 |
| Nebraska | 710 | $36,920 | $39,540 | $17.75 |
| Tennessee | 390 | $36,400 | $37,100 | $17.50 |
| South Carolina | 650 | $36,070 | $38,190 | $17.34 |
| Puerto Rico | 250 | $35,890 | $34,490 | $17.25 |
| Kentucky | 670 | $35,700 | $37,370 | $17.16 |
| Indiana | 1,470 | $35,560 | $35,190 | $17.10 |
| Wisconsin | 2,890 | $35,000 | $36,080 | $16.83 |
| Michigan | 2,180 | $34,680 | $37,040 | $16.67 |
| Idaho | 520 | $34,510 | $34,690 | $16.59 |
| West Virginia | 280 | $30,300 | $34,650 | $14.57 |
| South Dakota | 650 | $29,590 | $33,950 | $14.23 |
| Oklahoma | 830 | $29,440 | $34,410 | $14.15 |
| Arkansas | 390 | $28,570 | $31,420 | $13.73 |
| Mississippi | 270 | $27,080 | $31,070 | $13.02 |
| Wyoming | 400 | $26,850 | $34,150 | $12.91 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Museum Technicians and Conservators$51,440 a year
- Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$50,890 a year
- Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,800 a year
- Tutors$43,350 a year
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$42,910 a year
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$41,670 a year
Common questions
How much do Library Technicians earn in the United States?
The median pay was $44,580 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,300 and the highest-paid 10% more than $63,080.
How many people work as Library Technicians?
About 68,690 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.