Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $74,980 a year ($36.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,500 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $68,270. Pay here is 22% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $61,420. There are 1.4 librarians and media collections specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for librarians and media collections specialists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,410 | $24.71 |
| 25th percentile | $60,360 | $29.02 |
| Median | $74,980 | $36.05 |
| 75th percentile | $80,760 | $38.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Average (mean) | $76,910 | $36.98 |
Half of librarians and media collections specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,248.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,124.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,883.85 |
| Weekly | $1,441.92 |
| Hourly | $36.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $74,980 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $77,520 | 880 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,550 | 660 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,240 | 960 |
| Wilmington, NC | $63,030 | 160 |
| Burlington, NC | $61,210 | 60 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $60,440 | 220 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $60,090 | 270 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $59,440 | 140 |
| Asheville, NC | $58,870 | 140 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $58,370 | 90 |
| Greenville, NC | $57,050 | 70 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $51,460 | 40 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $50,870 | 30 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $49,780 | 30 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $46,550 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for librarians and media collections specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $100,030 |
| District of Columbia | $96,550 |
| California | $89,790 |
| Maryland | $88,570 |
| Nevada | $84,540 |
| Connecticut | $79,210 |
| Alaska | $78,810 |
| New York | $78,590 |
| Massachusetts | $78,540 |
| New Jersey | $78,380 |
See Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Curator | $49,240 | $23.68 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $41,560 | $19.98 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $51,400 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $29,090 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $57,870 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $35,190 | $16.92 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $51,340 | — |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $46,730 | $22.47 |
| Tutor | $45,350 | $21.81 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $58,260 | — |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,390 | — |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $58,540 | $28.14 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-4022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a librarians and media collections specialists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for librarians and media collections specialists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $74,980 a year, or $36.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid librarians and media collections specialists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of librarians and media collections specialists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $101,500 a year. The top 25% earn $80,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for librarians and media collections specialists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,410 a year, and a quarter of librarians and media collections specialists earn $60,360 or less.
How many librarians and media collections specialists work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 470 librarians and media collections specialists are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.