Library Technicians Salary
Library Technicians in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA make a median of $65,690 a year, or about $31.58 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $59,111 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 54.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $66K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for library technicians, local pay runs about 47% higher than the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,501/month, which is 55% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for library technicians in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $52K | $49K |
| Bellingham | $58K | $56K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $66K | $63K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $56K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level library technicians (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $26K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track library technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a library technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 55% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for library technicians in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new library technicians typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,079/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 47% above the national median — $66K here vs. $45K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for library technicians?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s +47%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do library technicians make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $65,690 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,310, and experienced library technicians can clear $76,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,550/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 55% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 library technicians salary is worth about $59,111 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.