As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Reference Librarian in District of Columbia is $79,314, equivalent to $38 per hour, $1,525 weekly, or $6,610 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Reference Librarian in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Reference Librarian in District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $61,761 to $95,037. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($70,126) and 75th percentile ($87,544), while top earners (90th percentile) make $95,037 per year. This $17,418 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or Information Sciences, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Reference Librarian often earn 10.7% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 78 companies. However, District of Columbia currently ranks 1 nationwide for Reference Librarian job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Reference Librarian Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $61,761 DC January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $70,126 DC January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $79,314 DC January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $87,544 DC January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $95,037 DC January 01, 2026
25% $70,126 10% $61,761 90% $95,037 75% $87,544 $79,314 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Reference Librarian jobs in District of Columbia

Reference Librarian - Law Library

Georgetown University - Washington, DC

Administrative Law Research Librarian – Policy & Reference

Jamison Professional Services, Inc. - Washington, DC

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What is a Reference Librarian ?

The reference desk or information desk of a library is a public service counter where professional librarians provide library users with direction to library materials, advice on library collections and services, and expertise on multiple kinds of information from multiple sources....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $86,371 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $86,371 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $86,371 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $86,371 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Job Openings for Reference Librarian in District of Columbia

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Reference Librarian

    2 - 4 years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

  2. Up a level:

    Senior Librarian

    4 - 7 years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

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