Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,140 or more. The middle half of librarians and media collections specialists in Memphis earn between $53,920 and $75,920.
- $40K10th
- $54K25th
- $66KMedian
- $76K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,150 | $5,346 | $30.84 |
| Median | $65,820 | $5,485 | $31.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,920 | $4,493 | $25.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,920 | $6,327 | $36.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Librarians and media collections specialists in Memphis earn 4% more than the Tennessee average ($61,560) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($72,840). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $64,150 | $65,820 | $40,110 | $80,140 | 420 |
| Tennessee | $61,560 | $62,090 | $36,860 | $80,140 | 2,540 |
| United States | $72,840 | $68,270 | $43,660 | $103,990 | 133,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $64,150, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $53,725 a year, or $4,477 a month and $2,066 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $53,725 | $4,477 |
| Working in MS | $51,891 | $4,324 |
| Working in AR | $51,839 | $4,320 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for librarians and media collections specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $64,150 buys what about $69,593 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 4th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Clarksville pays the most ($69,700).
- Clarksville$69,700
- Nashville$67,470
- Chattanooga$64,930
- Memphis$64,150
- Knoxville$59,900
- Cleveland$58,990
- Johnson City$58,890
- Kingsport$58,110
- Jackson$52,850
- Morristown$52,120
All Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salaries in Tennessee
Highest-paying cities for librarians and media collections specialists
Seattle, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,400).
- Seattle, WA$105,400
- San Jose, CA$103,650
- Merced, CA$102,870
- San Francisco, CA$101,170
- Bremerton, WA$100,200
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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in Memphis: questions
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make an hour in Memphis?
$30.84 an hour on average, and $31.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level librarians and media collections specialists salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the librarians and media collections specialists take-home pay in Memphis?
About $53,725 a year ($4,477 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,150. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do librarians and media collections specialists earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4022; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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