Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Minnesota make a median of $77,650 a year, or about $37.33 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $83,855 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Minnesota?
About librarians and media collections specialists
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for librarians and media collections specialists, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level librarians and media collections specialists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary by metro in Minnesota
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $81K | +4% | 1,390 |
| Rochester | $80K | +3% | 130 |
| Mankato | $79K | +2% | 40 |
| Duluth | $65K | -16% | 120 |
| St. Cloud | $60K | -22% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track librarians and media collections specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a librarians and media collections specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 28.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for librarians and media collections specialists in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new librarians and media collections specialists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,882/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $78K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for librarians and media collections specialists?
Minnesota pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make in Minnesota?
The median is $77,650 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,040, and experienced librarians and media collections specialists can clear $99,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,930/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 28.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a librarians and media collections specialists salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $83,855 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.