BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Illinois

$69,420 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$33.38 per hour

▼ 4.7% below U.S. average20th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$69,420per year
Median$62,700per year
Hourly$33.38per hour
10th – 90th percentile$38,650 – $103,540per year

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,650
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$49,720
  • 50th Percentile — Median$62,700
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$80,690
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$103,540

Half of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Illinois earn more than $62,700. The top 10% make $103,540 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,650.

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 20th of 51 states for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay, at $69,420 per year (4.7% below the U.S. average of $72,840).
  • 5,390 people work as Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Illinois — 4.0% of all U.S. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.03: Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,650; the top 10% earn over $103,540.
  • Hourly equivalent: $33.38 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Washington at $98,530.
  • Among education jobs in Illinois, Business Professors pays the most ($108,900).

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists here earn $69,420 on average, placing the state 20th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $69,420 is roughly equivalent to $66,114 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Georgia ($75,300), Colorado ($75,070), Hawaii ($72,460) 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 Illinois?

The average Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Illinois is $69,420 per year (median $62,700), which is 4.7% below the national average of $72,840.

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

Illinois ranks 20th 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 Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Illinois earn about $38,650 per year and the 25th percentile is $49,720.

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

About $33.38 per hour, based on the $69,420 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Librarians and Media Collections Specialists work in Illinois?

BLS counts 5,390 Librarians and Media Collections Specialists jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

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