California ranks 3rd of 51 states and D.C. for librarians and media collections specialists pay, trailing top-paying Washington ($94,400) by $7,810 — a 9% gap.
The 10th-to-90th percentile range runs from $48,480 to $130,760 — a $82,280 spread, 33% wider than the national $61,960 range.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists are less concentrated in California than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.65 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.54× below the national share.
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $48,480 | $23.31 |
| 25th percentile | $66,560 | $32.00 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,590 | $41.63 |
| 75th percentile | $105,520 | $50.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,760 | $62.87 |
| Mean (average) | $90,960 | $43.73 |
How California Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. California |
|---|---|---|
| California (current) | $86,590 | n/a |
| Washington | $94,400 | +9% |
| District of Columbia | $93,740 | +8% |
| Maryland | $81,690 | -6% |
| Nevada | $79,710 | -8% |
| New Jersey | $79,380 | -8% |
| Delaware | $78,300 | -10% |
| Alaska | $78,280 | -10% |
| New York | $77,080 | -11% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in California
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance Underwriters | $87,200 | 7,300 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $85,850 | 15,360 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $85,560 | 3,180 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $87,940 | 13,640 |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $84,910 | 12,820 |
| Credit Analysts | $88,360 | 6,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in California?
The mean librarians and media collections specialists salary in California is $90,960 per year. The median (middle) salary is $86,590 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in California?
Entry-level librarians and media collections specialistss (10th percentile) in California typically earn around $48,480 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $66,560 per year.
What is the highest Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in California?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in California make approximately $130,760 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $105,520 per year.
How does the California Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary compare to the national average?
The median librarians and media collections specialists salary in California is $86,590, which is +35% above national average of $64,320.