Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA make a median of $83,110 a year, or about $39.96 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $74,278 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,001/month — about 57.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $83K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). 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, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level librarians and media collections specialists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $75K 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $83,110 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,140, and experienced librarians and media collections specialists can clear $132,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,249/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 57.2% 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (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 $74,278 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.