Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay range in Salinas
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,250 or more. The middle half of librarians and media collections specialists in Salinas earn between $60,160 and $99,980.
- $47K10th
- $60K25th
- $76KMedian
- $100K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,550 | $6,879 | $39.69 |
| Median | $76,080 | $6,340 | $36.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,160 | $5,013 | $28.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,980 | $8,332 | $48.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay in Salinas vs. California and the U.S.
Librarians and media collections specialists in Salinas earn 11% less than the California average ($92,300) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($72,840). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | $82,550 | $76,080 | $46,840 | $129,250 | 150 |
| 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 Salinas
On the average salary of $82,550, a single filer in Salinas takes home about $63,319 a year, or $5,277 a month and $2,435 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 Salinas a good place for librarians and media collections specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salinas area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.0), so the average $82,550 buys what about $75,705 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Salinas ($47,380). A typical home costs $850,461, or 10.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in other California cities
Salinas ranks 19th 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
- Salinas$82,550
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Salinas: questions
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make an hour in Salinas?
$39.69 an hour on average, and $36.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level librarians and media collections specialists salary in Salinas?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the librarians and media collections specialists take-home pay in Salinas?
About $63,319 a year ($5,277 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,550. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do librarians and media collections specialists earn more in Salinas than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Salinas, CA (41500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.