Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Kentucky
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Kentucky earn a median of $65,200 a year ($31.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,980 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,190 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $68,270. Kentucky ranks 22nd of 51 states for librarians and media collections specialists pay. There are 0.99 librarians and media collections specialists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $65,970, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for librarians and media collections specialists in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 25th percentile | $54,020 | $25.97 |
| Median | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| 75th percentile | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,190 | $40.96 |
| Average (mean) | $65,970 | $31.72 |
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 | $5,433.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,716.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,507.69 |
| Weekly | $1,253.85 |
| Hourly | $31.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $65,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown, KY | $76,920 | 40 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $76,110 | 80 |
| Owensboro, KY | $72,490 | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $71,260 | 440 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $65,280 | 110 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,070 | 870 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $62,900 | 380 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $62,900 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $60,800 | 120 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technician | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| Curator | $55,460 | $26.67 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Archivist | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,610 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $30,160 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,560 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $29,780 | $14.32 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $61,120 | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $67,690 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $60,060 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $63,640 | $30.59 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $60,730 | — |
| Teachers and Instructors, All Other | $58,200 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for librarians and media collections specialists in Kentucky is $65,200 a year, or $31.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid librarians and media collections specialists make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of librarians and media collections specialists in Kentucky earn at least $85,190 a year. The top 25% earn $76,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for librarians and media collections specialists in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,950 a year, and a quarter of librarians and media collections specialists earn $54,020 or less.
How many librarians and media collections specialists work in Kentucky?
About 1,980 librarians and media collections specialists are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.