Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD make a median of $72,660 a year, or about $34.93 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $70,853 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month — about 37.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $73K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About librarians and media collections specialists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level librarians and media collections specialists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $94K | +47% | 2,830 |
| District of Columbia | $94K | +46% | 940 |
| California | $87K | +35% | 10,030 |
| Maryland | $82K | +27% | 3,270 |
| Nevada | $80K | +24% | 650 |
| New Jersey | $79K | +23% | 3,510 |
| Delaware | $78K | +22% | 330 |
| Alaska | $78K | +22% | 330 |
| New York | $77K | +20% | 11,020 |
| Connecticut | $76K | +19% | 2,430 |
| Massachusetts | $76K | +18% | 5,120 |
| Oregon | $75K | +17% | 1,650 |
| Minnesota | $75K | +17% | 2,290 |
| Virginia | $74K | +16% | 4,750 |
| Georgia | $74K | +14% | 3,450 |
| Rhode Island | $73K | +13% | 810 |
| Texas | $65K | +1% | 9,430 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -1% | 2,370 |
| Kentucky | $63K | -1% | 2,010 |
| Hawaii | $63K | -2% | 330 |
| Illinois | $62K | -3% | 4,610 |
| Alabama | $62K | -3% | 3,260 |
| Montana | $62K | -4% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -4% | 1,150 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -4% | 460 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | -5% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $61K | -6% | 660 |
| Vermont | $60K | -6% | 580 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -7% | 5,420 |
| South Carolina | $60K | -7% | 2,320 |
| Florida | $60K | -7% | 5,960 |
| North Carolina | $60K | -7% | 3,990 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -7% | 2,590 |
| Kansas | $60K | -7% | 1,680 |
| Michigan | $60K | -7% | 3,430 |
| Louisiana | $59K | -8% | 1,890 |
| Arizona | $59K | -9% | 1,880 |
| Ohio | $57K | -11% | 4,770 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -12% | 1,470 |
| Maine | $57K | -12% | 930 |
| Missouri | $54K | -17% | 2,660 |
| Oklahoma | $53K | -17% | 2,010 |
| Iowa | $53K | -18% | 1,820 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -22% | 1,300 |
| Utah | $50K | -23% | 1,630 |
| South Dakota | $49K | -23% | 460 |
| Indiana | $49K | -24% | 2,160 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -24% | 430 |
| Wyoming | $48K | -25% | 360 |
| Idaho | $47K | -28% | 530 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track librarians and media collections specialists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $72,660 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,070, and experienced librarians and media collections specialists can clear $102,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,773/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 37.9% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median librarians and media collections specialists salary is worth about $70,853 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.