Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $141,690 or more. The middle half of librarians and media collections specialists in Modesto earn between $72,840 and $121,980.
- $56K10th
- $73K25th
- $81KMedian
- $122K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,630 | $7,886 | $45.50 |
| Median | $80,860 | $6,738 | $38.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,840 | $6,070 | $35.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $121,980 | $10,165 | $58.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Librarians and media collections specialists in Modesto earn about the same as the California average ($92,300) and 30% more than the U.S. average ($72,840). At the median the gap is +18% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $94,630 | $80,860 | $55,990 | $141,690 | 80 |
| California | $92,300 | $89,790 | $50,750 | $132,870 | 10,180 |
| United States | $72,840 | $68,270 | $43,660 | $103,990 | 133,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary after taxes in Modesto
On the average salary of $94,630, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $70,694 a year, or $5,891 a month and $2,719 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Modesto a good place for librarians and media collections specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $94,630 buys what about $90,896 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 8th of 23 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($103,650).
- San Jose$103,650
- Merced$102,870
- San Francisco$101,170
- Santa Maria$99,340
- Santa Cruz$96,420
- San Diego$95,150
- Los Angeles$94,680
- Modesto$94,630
- San Luis Obispo$92,500
- Bakersfield$90,440
All Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for librarians and media collections specialists
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,400).
- Seattle, WA$105,400
- San Jose, CA$103,650
- Merced, CA$102,870
- San Francisco, CA$101,170
- Bremerton, WA$100,200
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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Modesto: questions
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make an hour in Modesto?
$45.50 an hour on average, and $38.88 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level librarians and media collections specialists salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the librarians and media collections specialists take-home pay in Modesto?
About $70,694 a year ($5,891 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do librarians and media collections specialists earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4022; area Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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