Library Assistants, Clerical Salary
Library Assistants, Clericals in New York make a median of $35,990 a year, or about $17.3 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $36,646 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 77.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in New York?
About library assistants, clericals
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in New York
Library assistants, clerical pay in New York tracks closely to the national median, $36K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,917/month, which is 77.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) 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, New York
Entry-level library assistants, clericals (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Library Assistants, Clerical salary by metro in New York
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $39K | +8% | 610 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $38K | +5% | 7,080 |
| Ithaca | $38K | +5% | 50 |
| Kingston | $37K | +2% | 130 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $36K | -0% | 300 |
| Syracuse | $35K | -3% | 340 |
| Rochester | $35K | -3% | 580 |
| Utica-Rome | $34K | -5% | 110 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $34K | -5% | 80 |
| Glens Falls | $34K | -5% | 90 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $33K | -9% | 380 |
| Binghamton | $32K | -10% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track library assistants, clerical salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
Can a library assistants, clerical afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 77.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for library assistants, clericals in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new library assistants, clericals typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,957/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 98% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is library assistants, clerical a high-paying job in New York?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $36K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does New York compare to the national average for library assistants, clericals?
New York pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do library assistants, clericals make in New York?
The median is $35,990 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,610, and experienced library assistants, clericals can clear $57,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,465/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 77.8% 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 library assistants, clerical salary go in New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 library assistants, clerical salary is worth about $36,646 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do library assistants, clericals 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.