Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $74,760 +16.2% vs national
Median hourly $35.94
10th percentile $55,270
90th percentile $99,370
Employed locally 460
National median $64,320

Compare Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary & buying power

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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $55,270
    25th
    $63,540
    50th (median)
    $74,760
    75th
    $84,990
    90th
    $99,370

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary vs area income 92% Median Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary is 8% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $101,900
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $100,810
    Kennewick-Richland, WA $99,530
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $99,370
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $98,820
    Bellingham, WA $98,760

    Nearby metros — Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $98,660
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $84,200
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $79,160
    Anchorage, AK $79,030
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $74,440
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $72,530

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $50,970
    Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary $28,960
    Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $58,950
    Instructional Coordinators $63,470
    Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education $34,850
    Substitute Teachers, Short-Term $32,940

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Librarians and Media Collections Specialists make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Durham, NC is $35.94, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $48.80 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salaries?

    The median Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Durham, NC is 16.2% above the national median of $64,320. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Durham?

    Entry-level Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (10th percentile) earn around $55,270 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $63,540.