BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in California

$92,300 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$44.38 per hour

▲ 26.7% above U.S. average3rd of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$92,300per year
Median$89,790per year
Hourly$44.38per hour
10th – 90th percentile$50,750 – $132,870per year

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Pay Range in California

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,750
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$66,540
  • 50th Percentile — Median$89,790
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$108,800
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$132,870

Half of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in California earn more than $89,790. The top 10% make $132,870 or more, while entry-level workers start around $50,750.

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in California: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • California ranks 3rd of 51 states for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay, at $92,300 per year (26.7% above the U.S. average of $72,840).
  • 10,180 people work as Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in California — 7.6% of all U.S. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.65: Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,750; the top 10% earn over $132,870.
  • Hourly equivalent: $44.38 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Washington at $98,530.
  • Among education jobs in California, Chemistry Professors pays the most ($154,490).

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Job Market in California

Key factors affecting compensation

California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists here earn $92,300 on average, placing the state 3rd nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $92,300 is roughly equivalent to $65,000 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($98,530), District of Columbia ($96,550), Maryland ($89,530) are the closest alternatives for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in California?

The average Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in California is $92,300 per year (median $89,790), which is 26.7% above the national average of $72,840.

How does California rank for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay?

California ranks 3rd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($98,530/yr).

How much do entry-level Librarians and Media Collections Specialists make in California?

The lowest-paid 10% of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in California earn about $50,750 per year and the 25th percentile is $66,540.

How much do Librarians and Media Collections Specialists make per hour in California?

About $44.38 per hour, based on the $92,300 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Librarians and Media Collections Specialists work in California?

BLS counts 10,180 Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).

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