Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Madison, WI
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median of $78,050 a year ($37.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,180 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $68,270. Pay here is 17% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $66,870. There are 1.1 librarians and media collections specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $75,570, close to the median.
Pay range for librarians and media collections specialists in Madison, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 25th percentile | $63,470 | $30.51 |
| Median | $78,050 | $37.53 |
| 75th percentile | $82,450 | $39.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,180 | $46.72 |
| Average (mean) | $75,570 | $36.33 |
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 | $6,504.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,252.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,001.92 |
| Weekly | $1,500.96 |
| Hourly | $37.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,800 | 1,390 |
| Wausau, WI | $74,780 | 30 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $74,240 | 610 |
| Green Bay, WI | $72,020 | 120 |
| Kenosha, WI | $69,640 | 40 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $68,100 | 40 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $66,020 | 70 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $65,340 | 120 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $65,250 | 50 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $65,120 | 40 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $64,050 | 100 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $63,920 | 70 |
| Appleton, WI | $62,670 | 90 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $61,520 | 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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technician | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Archivist | $63,040 | $30.31 |
| Curator | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,690 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $39,640 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $47,990 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $85,510 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,080 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $63,320 | — |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $43,960 | $21.14 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $60,920 | $29.29 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Madison, WI
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 Madison, WI?
The median salary for librarians and media collections specialists in the Madison, WI metro area is $78,050 a year, or $37.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid librarians and media collections specialists make in Madison, WI?
The top 10% of librarians and media collections specialists in the Madison, WI metro area earn at least $97,180 a year. The top 25% earn $82,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for librarians and media collections specialists in Madison, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,840 a year, and a quarter of librarians and media collections specialists earn $63,470 or less.
How many librarians and media collections specialists work in Madison, WI?
About 440 librarians and media collections specialists are employed in the Madison, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.