Librarian salary in District of Columbia
The median annual wage for librarians and media collections specialists in District of Columbia was $96,550 in May 2025, with an average of $96,550. About 960 people work in this occupation there.
That is 41% above the national median of $68,270. Compared with all occupations in District of Columbia (median $91,540), librarians earn 5% more. With a location quotient of 1.59, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $63,540, while the top 10% earned more than $126,660. Many librarians are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,540 | $30.55 |
| 25th | $76,960 | $37.00 |
| Median | $96,550 | $46.42 |
| 75th | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| 90th | $126,660 | $60.90 |
Metro areas in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $95,480 | 3,630 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.