Public Services Librarian Salary in the United States

How much does a Public Services Librarian make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Public Services Librarian in the United States is $69,247 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,089
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,471 to $76,492
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,391

Key Factors That Influence Public Services Librarian Salaries

A Public Services 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 Public Services Librarian Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Public Services 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): $68,714
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $86,213
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $88,641
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $102,874
  • Expert (over 8 years): $117,274
Levels Salary
Public Se... Level Public Services Librarian$68,714
Senior Li... Level Public Services Librarian$86,213
Library S... Level Public Services Librarian$88,641
Library S... Level Public Services Librarian$102,874
Chief Lib... Level Public Services Librarian$117,274

How Do Public Services Librarian 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 Public Services Librarians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $76,670.
  • California: $76,379.
  • Massachusetts: $75,361.

Top Paying Cities for Public Services Librarians

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: $87,341
  • San Francisco: $86,385
  • Oakland: $84,564

What Skills Can Increase a Public Services Librarian's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.31% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Information Sciences (Mentioned in 4.27% Job Postings): Information science is an academic field which is primarily concerned with analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval, movement, dissemination, and protection of information.
  • Collection Management (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): It involves the development, storage, and preservation of cultural property, as well as objects of contemporary culture (including contemporary art, literature, technology, and documents) in museums, libraries, archives and private collections
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.31%
Information Sciences 4.27%
Collection Management 1.35%

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 Public Services Librarian's salary.

  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Time Management $74,094
7%
Leadership $72,017
4%
Project Management $72,017
4%

Public Services Librarian Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Public Services Librarian roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Public Services Librarian positions in Business Services or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Public Services Librarian as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Public Services Librarian

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$96,946$47.040%
Biotechnology$90,021$43.030%
Insurance$86,558$42.025%
Aerospace & Defense$83,096$40.020%
Software & Networking$83,096$40.020%

How Education impacts a Public Services Librarian's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Public Services Librarian with a Bachelor's Degree is between $68,285 and $73,903).

Public Services Librarian Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Public Services Librarian
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 3.6%
Associates 2.4%
Bachelors 15.6%
Masters 74.5%
Doctorate 2.8%

Public Services Librarian Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Public Services 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 September 01, 2026
$61,471
Average $69,247/year
$76,492
$5,123
Average $5,771/month
$6,374
$1,182
Average $1,332/week
$1,471
$30
Average $33/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $76,492 $6,374 $1,471 $37
Average $69,247 $5,771 $1,332 $33
25th Percentile $61,471 $5,123 $1,182 $30

Most common benefits for Public Services Librarian

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

Common company salaries for Public Services Librarian

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

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FAQ about Public Services Librarian

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Public Services Librarian?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Public Services Librarian roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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