Librarians and library media specialists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$64,320
~$31/hr · ~$5,360/mo
US Jobs
142K
Slower than average
AI & Automation Risk
7/10
High Risk
AI & Automation Risk
High Risk 7/10
Librarianship is fundamentally about information retrieval, organization, and research—domains where LLMs and AI search engines excel. While the physical presence in schools and public libraries provides a buffer through community programming and interpersonal support, the core technical tasks of cataloging, database management, and reference assistance are highly exposed to AI automation and displacement.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WABEST VALUE | $99,530 | Average (98.9) | $100,652 |
| Yakima, WA | $93,990 | Average (97.9) | $96,004 |
| Bellingham, WA | $98,760 | Above avg (104.0) | $94,951 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $98,820 | Above avg (106.4) | $92,911 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $97,910 | Above avg (107.4) | $91,147 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $101,900 | Above avg (112.8) | $90,358 |
| Modesto, CA | $94,450 | Above avg (105.1) | $89,844 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,810 | Above avg (112.7) | $89,425 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $99,370 | Above avg (113.1) | $87,892 |
| Laredo, TX | $77,070 | Below avg (88.3) | $87,261 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $98,670 | Above avg (113.7) | $86,760 |
| Mankato, MN | $74,950 | Below avg (87.6) | $85,513 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $76,710 | Below avg (89.9) | $85,350 |
| Vineland, NJ | $79,550 | Below avg (93.9) | $84,704 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $85,670 | Average (101.9) | $84,067 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Master's degree
10-Year Growth
+2% (Slower than average)
Hourly Rate
~$31/hr
Monthly Income
~$5,360/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)