Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,160 or more. The middle half of librarians and media collections specialists in Baltimore earn between $65,570 and $101,900.
- $53K10th
- $66K25th
- $83KMedian
- $102K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,920 | $7,077 | $40.83 |
| Median | $83,090 | $6,924 | $39.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,570 | $5,464 | $31.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,900 | $8,492 | $48.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Librarians and media collections specialists in Baltimore earn 5% less than the Maryland average ($89,530) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($72,840). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $84,920 | $83,090 | $52,910 | $108,160 | 1,540 |
| Maryland | $89,530 | $88,570 | $57,380 | $123,910 | 3,220 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $84,920, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $64,749 a year, or $5,396 a month and $2,490 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for librarians and media collections specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $84,920 buys what about $81,273 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in other Maryland cities
Baltimore ranks 1st of 4 Maryland metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Baltimore$84,920
- Salisbury$78,110
- Lexington Park$77,930
- Hagerstown$67,750
All Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salaries in Maryland
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make an hour in Baltimore?
$40.83 an hour on average, and $39.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level librarians and media collections specialists salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the librarians and media collections specialists take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $64,749 a year ($5,396 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,920. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do librarians and media collections specialists earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.32, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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