Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $83,110 +29.2% vs national
Median hourly $39.96
10th percentile $57,140
90th percentile $132,120
Employed locally 770
National median $64,320

Compare Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $57,140
    25th
    $69,600
    50th (median)
    $83,110
    75th
    $98,080
    90th
    $132,120

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary vs area income 81% Median Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary is 19% 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
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $101,900
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $99,370
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $98,670
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $98,660
    Modesto, CA $94,450
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $90,410

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$78,430
    Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$43,010
    Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$55,740
    Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$99,740
    Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,520
    Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,370

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in San Diego, CA is $39.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $64.60 or more per hour.

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

    The median Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in San Diego, CA is 29.2% 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (10th percentile) earn around $57,140 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $69,600.