Library Technicians Salary
Library Technicians in Tennessee make a median of $36,400 a year, or about $17.5 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $40,544 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 46.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $36K get you in Tennessee?
About library technicians
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for library technicians in Tennessee runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 46.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for library technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level library technicians (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Library Technicians salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $50K | +37% | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $41K | +12% | 110 |
| Memphis | $36K | +0% | 120 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $32K | -11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track library technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a library technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 46.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new library technicians typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,259/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 97% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $36K here vs. $45K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for library technicians?
Tennessee pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do library technicians make in Tennessee?
The median is $36,400 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,980, and experienced library technicians can clear $51,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,607/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 46.6% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $40,544 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.