Best cities for a Librarian
The best cities for librarians are Stockton, CA, Reno, NV, and Anchorage, AK, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for librarians vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for librarians in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a librarian or considering a move, this list of the best cities for librarians to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for librarians. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a librarian. While the absolute best city for librarians is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for librarians in 2024.
Stockton, CA
Total Librarian Jobs:7
Average Annual Salary:$71,535
Location Quotient:15.00
If you're looking for a Librarian job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for Librarians In 2025
1. Stockton, CA
Total Librarian jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $71,535 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 15.00 2. Reno, NV
Total Librarian jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $62,164 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 7.08 3. Anchorage, AK
Total Librarian jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $73,111 Lowest 10 percent warn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 6.01 4. Oakland, CA
Total Librarian jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $72,040 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location quotient: 4.78 5. Detroit, MI
Total Librarian jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $57,519 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 3.60 6. Philadelphia, PA
Total Librarian jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $57,830 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location quotient: 3.15 7. Fort Wayne, IN
Total Librarian jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $52,454 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 13.08 8. Portland, OR
Total Librarian jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $69,312 Lowest 10 percent warn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 2.68 9. Henderson, NV
Total Librarian jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $54,521 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 13.71 10. Lexington, KY
Total Librarian jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $50,820 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location quotient: 11.01
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Best cities for librarians
- Stockton, CA
- Reno, NV
- Anchorage, AK
- Oakland, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Philadelphia, PA
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Portland, OR
- Henderson, NV
- Lexington, KY
- (7 librarian jobs)
- (7 librarian jobs)
- (4 librarian jobs)
- (6 librarian jobs)
- (10 librarian jobs)
- (20 librarian jobs)
- (10 librarian jobs)
- (12 librarian jobs)
- (5 librarian jobs)
- (9 librarian jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a Librarian
Rank  | City | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $71,535 | $46,000 | 307,072 | 7 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $62,164 | $41,000 | 245,255 | 7 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $73,111 | $65,000 | 298,192 | 4 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $72,040 | $47,000 | 420,005 | 6 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $57,519 | $41,000 | 672,795 | 10 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,830 | $41,000 | 1,567,872 | 20 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne, IN | $52,454 | $37,000 | 264,488 | 10 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $69,312 | $50,000 | 639,863 | 12 |
| 9 | Henderson, NV | $54,521 | $37,000 | 292,969 | 5 |
| 10 | Lexington, KY | $50,820 | $35,000 | 318,449 | 9 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $53,571 | $38,000 | 385,809 | 6 |
| 12 | Newark, NJ | $66,312 | $47,000 | 281,764 | 3 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $72,267 | $47,000 | 495,234 | 4 |
| 14 | Madison, WI | $53,911 | $40,000 | 252,551 | 6 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $62,275 | $43,000 | 614,664 | 32 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $57,427 | $44,000 | 413,651 | 12 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $51,854 | $35,000 | 458,880 | 10 |
| 18 | Fresno, CA | $67,084 | $44,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 19 | Louisville, KY | $50,510 | $35,000 | 597,337 | 6 |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $63,547 | $43,000 | 376,380 | 5 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $62,402 | $46,000 | 673,184 | 15 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $59,991 | $43,000 | 2,704,958 | 20 |
| 23 | San Francisco, CA | $72,257 | $47,000 | 870,887 | 11 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,574 | $39,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 25 | Seattle, WA | $69,677 | $52,000 | 704,352 | 8 |
| 26 | Omaha, NE | $60,253 | $44,000 | 446,970 | 2 |
| 27 | Norfolk, VA | $56,208 | $38,000 | 245,115 | 9 |
| 28 | Washington, DC | $65,339 | $45,000 | 681,170 | 36 |
| 29 | Los Angeles, CA | $61,874 | $42,000 | 3,976,322 | 65 |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $49,445 | $33,000 | 683,080 | 9 |
| 31 | Garland, TX | $48,618 | $32,000 | 234,943 | 13 |
| 32 | Arlington, TX | $48,672 | $32,000 | 392,772 | 7 |
| 33 | New York, NY | $63,403 | $45,000 | 8,537,673 | 66 |
| 34 | Lincoln, NE | $59,869 | $43,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,220 | $40,000 | 595,047 | 3 |
| 36 | Columbus, OH | $51,651 | $36,000 | 860,090 | 7 |
| 37 | Jersey City, NJ | $66,322 | $47,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 38 | Cincinnati, OH | $50,038 | $35,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 39 | Austin, TX | $48,796 | $32,000 | 947,890 | 34 |
| 40 | Laredo, TX | $48,366 | $32,000 | 257,156 | 2 |
| 41 | Lubbock, TX | $49,026 | $33,000 | 252,506 | 2 |
| 42 | Fremont, CA | $71,222 | $46,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 43 | San Jose, CA | $70,482 | $46,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 44 | Toledo, OH | $52,633 | $37,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 45 | Long Beach, CA | $61,629 | $42,000 | 470,130 | 2 |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $57,424 | $44,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 47 | Las Vegas, NV | $54,768 | $37,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | $47,844 | $33,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 49 | North Las Vegas, NV | $54,720 | $37,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 50 | New Orleans, LA | $44,969 | $30,000 | 391,495 | 4 |
Highest paying cities for librarians
| Rank | City | Avg. Librarian Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $72,257 |
| 2 | Bellingham, WA | $69,861 |
| 3 | Albany, OR | $69,319 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $65,339 |
| 5 | New Haven, CT | $65,049 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $63,403 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $62,402 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $62,275 |
| 9 | Evanston, IL | $60,140 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,830 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $57,519 |
| 12 | Apple Valley, MN | $57,219 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $56,314 |
| 14 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $53,973 |
| 15 | Cleveland, OH | $53,571 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $51,854 |
| 17 | Iowa City, IA | $51,131 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $50,994 |
| 19 | Boulder, CO | $50,119 |
| 20 | El Paso, TX | $49,445 |
Librarian best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025