Librarian salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
The median annual wage for librarians and media collections specialists in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA was $94,380 in May 2025, with an average of $99,340. About 130 people work in this occupation there.
That is 38% above the national median of $68,270. Compared with all occupations in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA (median $51,690), librarians earn 83% more. Its location quotient of 0.74 means the job is less common here than nationally.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $59,710, while the top 10% earned more than $135,680. Many librarians are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,710 | $28.71 |
| 25th | $69,950 | $33.63 |
| Median | $94,380 | $45.37 |
| 75th | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| 90th | $135,680 | $65.23 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.