Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,980 or more. The middle half of librarians and media collections specialists in Paducah earn between $50,880 and $72,250.
- $46K10th
- $51K25th
- $63KMedian
- $72K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,690 | $5,058 | $29.18 |
| Median | $62,900 | $5,242 | $30.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,880 | $4,240 | $24.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,250 | $6,021 | $34.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Librarians and media collections specialists in Paducah earn 8% less than the Kentucky average ($65,970) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($72,840). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $60,690 | $62,900 | $46,050 | $74,980 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $65,970 | $65,200 | $45,950 | $85,190 | 1,980 |
| 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 Paducah
On the average salary of $60,690, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $47,724 a year, or $3,977 a month and $1,836 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $48,081 | $4,007 |
| Working in KY | $47,724 | $3,977 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for librarians and media collections specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $60,690 buys what about $70,501 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Elizabethtown pays the most ($71,830).
- Elizabethtown$71,830
- Louisville$70,320
- Owensboro$68,020
- Lexington$66,490
- Bowling Green$60,930
- Paducah$60,690
All Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salaries in Kentucky
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 Paducah: questions
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make an hour in Paducah?
$29.18 an hour on average, and $30.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level librarians and media collections specialists salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the librarians and media collections specialists take-home pay in Paducah?
About $47,724 a year ($3,977 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,690. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do librarians and media collections specialists earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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