Library Assistants, Clerical Salary
Library Assistants, Clericals in Wisconsin make a median of $39,610 a year, or about $19.04 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $41,991 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 44.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Wisconsin?
About library assistants, clericals
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Library assistants, clerical pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 44% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level library assistants, clericals (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Library Assistants, Clerical salary by metro in Wisconsin
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $46K | +17% | 230 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $44K | +11% | 60 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $43K | +10% | 360 |
| Eau Claire | $42K | +6% | 50 |
| Wausau | $41K | +3% | 30 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $40K | +2% | 50 |
| Appleton | $38K | -3% | 100 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $38K | -4% | 50 |
| Sheboygan | $38K | -4% | 30 |
| Green Bay | $37K | -7% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track library assistants, clerical salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a library assistants, clerical afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 44% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new library assistants, clericals typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,844/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for library assistants, clericals?
Wisconsin pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do library assistants, clericals make in Wisconsin?
The median is $39,610 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,740, and experienced library assistants, clericals can clear $51,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,733/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 44% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $41,991 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.