Library Technicians Salary
Library Technicians in Reading, PA make a median of $38,410 a year, or about $18.47 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.06), that's roughly $39,573 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,575/month, about 59% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K get you in Reading?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Reading’s Regional Price Parity (97.06). 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 library technicians
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What this looks like in Reading
Pay for library technicians in Reading runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,575/month, which is 59.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for library technicianss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for library technicians in metros near Reading, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $49K | $48K |
| Pittsburgh | $45K | $47K |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $47K | $48K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $47K | $47K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Reading, PA
Entry-level library technicians (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Library Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Library Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $63K | +40% | 1,850 |
| District of Columbia | $61K | +37% | 390 |
| Connecticut | $57K | +28% | 930 |
| California | $53K | +19% | 7,190 |
| Minnesota | $51K | +15% | 1,180 |
| Hawaii | $51K | +14% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $50K | +13% | 1,910 |
| Vermont | $50K | +12% | 150 |
| New York | $50K | +12% | 3,390 |
| Oregon | $50K | +12% | 1,810 |
| Maryland | $49K | +10% | 1,980 |
| New Jersey | $49K | +10% | 1,060 |
| Rhode Island | $49K | +9% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +9% | 280 |
| Delaware | $48K | +7% | 210 |
| Illinois | $47K | +6% | 2,140 |
| Alaska | $47K | +5% | 220 |
| Colorado | $47K | +5% | 2,250 |
| North Carolina | $47K | +4% | 2,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $46K | +3% | 1,560 |
| Nevada | $46K | +2% | 410 |
| Virginia | $46K | +2% | 2,580 |
| Maine | $45K | -0% | 320 |
| Kansas | $42K | -6% | 480 |
| Florida | $41K | -8% | 3,070 |
| Arizona | $41K | -9% | 820 |
| Utah | $40K | -10% | 310 |
| North Dakota | $39K | -12% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $39K | -12% | 1,410 |
| Missouri | $39K | -12% | 1,360 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -13% | 540 |
| Texas | $39K | -13% | 5,180 |
| Iowa | $39K | -13% | 1,510 |
| Montana | $38K | -14% | 370 |
| Ohio | $38K | -15% | 4,020 |
| Georgia | $37K | -16% | 2,130 |
| Alabama | $37K | -17% | 390 |
| Nebraska | $37K | -17% | 710 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -18% | 390 |
| South Carolina | $36K | -19% | 650 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -20% | 670 |
| Indiana | $36K | -20% | 1,470 |
| Wisconsin | $35K | -21% | 2,890 |
| Michigan | $35K | -22% | 2,180 |
| Idaho | $35K | -23% | 520 |
| West Virginia | $30K | -32% | 280 |
| South Dakota | $30K | -34% | 650 |
| Oklahoma | $29K | -34% | 830 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -36% | 390 |
| Mississippi | $27K | -39% | 270 |
| Wyoming | $27K | -40% | 400 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 states
Track library technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Reading numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a library technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Reading?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 59.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,575/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 technicians in Reading?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new library technicians typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,115/month. At HUD’s $1,575/month FMR, rent would take 74% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is library technician a high-paying job in Reading?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $38K here vs. $45K nationally.
How does Reading compare to the national average for library technicians?
Reading pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do library technicians make in Reading, PA?
The median is $38,410 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,250, and experienced library technicians can clear $57,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Reading?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,644/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,575/month, which eats 59.6% 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 technicians salary go in Reading?
Reading has a Regional Price Parity of 97.06 (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 technicians salary is worth about $39,573 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do library technicians 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.