Salary data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Librarian salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
$75,960
Median annual
$36.52
Median hourly
$70,210
Mean annual
280
Employed
The median annual wage for librarians and media collections specialists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA was $75,960 in May 2025, with an average of $70,210. About 280 people work in this occupation there.
That is 11% above the national median of $68,270. Compared with all occupations in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (median $51,820), librarians earn 47% more.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,600, while the top 10% earned more than $91,640. Many librarians are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,600 | $18.08 |
| 25th | $52,880 | $25.43 |
| Median | $75,960 | $36.52 |
| 75th | $87,340 | $41.99 |
| 90th | $91,640 | $44.06 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.