Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Maryland make a median of $88,570 a year, or about $42.58 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $89,682 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $89K get you in Maryland?
About librarians and media collections specialists
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for librarians and media collections specialists, local pay runs about 30% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,795/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level librarians and media collections specialists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary by metro in Maryland
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $83K | -6% | 1,540 |
| Salisbury | $80K | -10% | 80 |
| Lexington Park | $74K | -16% | 190 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $63K | -29% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track librarians and media collections specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a librarians and media collections specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 32.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for librarians and media collections specialists in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new librarians and media collections specialists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,443/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is librarians and media collections specialist a high-paying job in Maryland?
Local pay is 30% above the national median — $89K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for librarians and media collections specialists?
Maryland pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make in Maryland?
The median is $88,570 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,380, and experienced librarians and media collections specialists can clear $123,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,555/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 32.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a librarians and media collections specialists salary go in Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median librarians and media collections specialists salary is worth about $89,682 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do librarians and media collections specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.