Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Illinois
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Illinois earn a median of $62,700 a year ($30.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,390 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,540 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $68,270. Illinois ranks 29th of 51 states for librarians and media collections specialists pay. There are 0.88 librarians and media collections specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $69,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for librarians and media collections specialists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| 25th percentile | $49,720 | $23.91 |
| Median | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| 75th percentile | $80,690 | $38.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,540 | $49.78 |
| Average (mean) | $69,420 | $33.38 |
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 | $5,225 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,612.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,411.54 |
| Weekly | $1,205.77 |
| Hourly | $30.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,700 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $68,910 | 160 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $66,250 | 3,740 |
| Bloomington, IL | $66,180 | 130 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,350 | 1,220 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $62,900 | 50 |
| Springfield, IL | $61,790 | 90 |
| Rockford, IL | $60,630 | 100 |
| Decatur, IL | $58,550 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $56,850 | 200 |
| Kankakee, IL | $56,090 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $49,580 | 150 |
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.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technician | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Curator | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $56,720 | $27.27 |
| Archivist | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $36,990 | — |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,320 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,990 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $76,110 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $44,230 | $21.26 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $77,960 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $36,040 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $76,050 | $36.56 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for librarians and media collections specialists in Illinois is $62,700 a year, or $30.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid librarians and media collections specialists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of librarians and media collections specialists in Illinois earn at least $103,540 a year. The top 25% earn $80,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for librarians and media collections specialists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,650 a year, and a quarter of librarians and media collections specialists earn $49,720 or less.
How many librarians and media collections specialists work in Illinois?
About 5,390 librarians and media collections specialists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.