Librarian salary in Ames, IA
The median annual wage for librarians and media collections specialists in Ames, IA was $60,610 in May 2025, with an average of $63,770. About 90 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% below the national median of $68,270. Compared with all occupations in Ames, IA (median $50,220), librarians earn 21% more. With a location quotient of 1.96, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,210, while the top 10% earned more than $78,360. Many librarians are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,210 | $19.81 |
| 25th | $60,020 | $28.86 |
| Median | $60,610 | $29.14 |
| 75th | $76,240 | $36.66 |
| 90th | $78,360 | $37.67 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.