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Medical Librarian Salary in the United States

How much does a Medical Librarian make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Medical Librarian in the United States is $68,666 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Medical Librarian's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,289
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,715 to $75,797
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,476
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Medical Librarian Salaries

A Medical Librarian's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Medical Librarian Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Medical Librarian's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,055
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,293
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,198
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,178
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,391
Levels Salary
Entry Level Medical Librarian$66,055
Intermediate Level Medical Librarian$66,293
Senior Level Medical Librarian$69,198
Specialist Level Medical Librarian$72,178
Expert Level Medical Librarian$72,391
View as Graph

How Do Medical Librarians Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Medical Librarians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $76,027.
  • California: $75,739.
  • Massachusetts: $74,729.

Top Paying Cities for Medical Librarian

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $86,608
  • San Francisco: $85,660
  • Oakland: $83,855

What Skills Can Increase a Medical Librarian's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 4.67% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Clinical Support (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Assists healthcare professionals in the delivery of patient care. They work with an individual practitioner or a team, taking on tasks such as welcoming and preparing patients, explaining treatment and updating patient records
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 4.67%
Clinical Support 1.33%
Patient Care 1.33%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Medical Librarian's salary.

  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Content Management: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Listening $82,399
20%
Content Management $78,279
14%
Problem Solving $73,473
7%
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Medical Librarian Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Medical Librarian salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $77,265. While startup companies pay approximate $65,626.

Medical Librarian Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $65,626
Growth Stage 51~500 $69,333
Established 501~5000 $74,681
Enterprise 5000+ $77,265

Medical Librarian Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Medical Librarian roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Medical Librarian positions in Biotechnology or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Medical Librarian as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Medical Librarian

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$82,399$40.020%
Healthcare$75,533$36.010%

How Education impacts an Medical Librarian's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Medical Librarian enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Medical Librarian with a Bachelor's Degree is between $69,273 and $73,736.

Medical Librarian Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Medical Librarian
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.3%
High School 2.3%
Associates 84.1%
Bachelors 6.8%
Masters 84.1%
Doctorate 6.8%
View as Graph

Medical Librarian Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Medical Librarian's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$60,715
Average $68,666/year
$75,797
$5,060
Average $5,722/month
$6,316
$1,168
Average $1,321/week
$1,458
$29
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,797 $6,316 $1,458 $36
Average $68,666 $5,722 $1,321 $33
25th Percentile $60,715 $5,060 $1,168 $29

Medical Librarian Salary Growth & Career Path

Medical Librarian

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Medical Librarian, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Senior Librarian $86,151 25%
Medical Library Services Manager $94,494 38%
Law Librarian III $86,151 25%
Technical Librarian III $95,190 39%

Most common benefits for Medical Librarian

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Medical Librarian

Here are companies hiring for Medical Librarian and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Medical Librarian

1. Where can a Medical Librarian earn the most?

A Medical Librarian's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Medical Librarian earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Medical Librarian is $86,608.

2. What is the highest pay for Medical Librarian?

The highest pay for Medical Librarian is $82,289.

3. What is the lowest pay for Medical Librarian?

The lowest pay for Medical Librarian is $53,476.

4. What are the responsibilities of Medical Librarian?

Provides guidance and assistance to users researching medical information using database searches, inter-library loans, and other resources. Ensures the cataloging and circulation of materials are performed efficiently and correctly according to policies and standards. Creates training materials and delivers library instruction and education programs for physicians and other staff. Leads or contributes ideas for library strategic planning, quality initiatives, and the development of digital media and educational resources. Maintains current knowledge of medical developments and scientific literature. Requires a master's degree in library science. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2 -4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Medical Librarian?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Medical Librarian roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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