Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Librarian salary in Kentucky
$65,200
Median annual
$31.35
Median hourly
$65,970
Mean annual
1,980
Employed
In Kentucky, a typical librarian earned $65,200 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $65,970. About 1,980 people work in this occupation there.
That is 4% below the national median of $68,270. Compared with all occupations in Kentucky (median $46,920), librarians earn 39% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,950, while the top 10% earned more than $85,190. Many librarians are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 25th | $54,020 | $25.97 |
| Median | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| 75th | $76,840 | $36.94 |
| 90th | $85,190 | $40.96 |
Metro areas in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown, KY | $76,920 | 40 |
| Owensboro, KY | $72,490 | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $71,260 | 440 |
| Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $66,110 | 230 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $65,280 | 110 |
| South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $65,200 | 200 |
| East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $64,090 | 120 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $62,900 | 380 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $62,900 | 50 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.