As of May 18, 2021, the average annual salary for Reference Librarian in Chicago, IL is $74,027, equivalent to $36 per hour, $1,424 weekly, or $6,169 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Reference Librarian in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Reference Librarian in Chicago, IL vary widely, spanning from $57,739 to $88,828. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($65,502) and 75th percentile ($81,775), while top earners (90th percentile) make $88,828 per year. This $16,273 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or Information Sciences, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Chicago Reference Librarian often earn 1.0% higher than national averages. However, Chicago currently ranks 265 statewide for Reference Librarian job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Reference Librarian Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $57,739 Chicago, IL May 18, 2021
25th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $65,502 Chicago, IL May 18, 2021
50th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $74,027 Chicago, IL May 18, 2021
75th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $81,775 Chicago, IL May 18, 2021
90th Percentile Reference Librarian Salary $88,828 Chicago, IL May 18, 2021
25% $65,502 10% $57,739 90% $88,828 75% $81,775 $74,027 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria
Check out Reference Librarian jobs in Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Professor (Law Library Reference Librarian)

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale, IL

Access Registered Nurse

Arkansas Hospice, Inc. - PINE BLUFF, AR

CASE MANAGER FOR HOSTPIAL, RN FULL TIME

AMG SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - ALBUQUERQUE - ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Search More Reference Librarian Jobs in Chicago, Illinois

What is a Reference Librarian ?

The reference desk or information desk of a library is a public service counter where professional librarians provide library users with direction to library materials, advice on library collections and services, and expertise on multiple kinds of information from multiple sources....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Reference Librarian.

Job Openings for Reference Librarian in Chicago, IL

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Reference Librarian

    2 - 4 years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

  2. Up a level:

    Senior Librarian

    4 - 7 years experience
    Master's Degree or MBA

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Reference Librarian, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
65502
81775
74027

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
70436
93949
81318
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Reference Librarian in Chicago, IL. The base salary for Reference Librarian ranges from $65,502 to $81,775 with the average base salary of $74,027. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $70,436 to $93,949 with the average total cash compensation of $81,318.
Similar Job Titles:

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

65502
81775

 

About Chicago, Illinois    Chicago (/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ (listen), locally also /-ˈkɔː-/), officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois, as well as the third mos....More

Chicago, Illinois  area prices were up 0.8% from a year ago

Reference Librarian Salary in popular cities: AuroraRockfordJoliet

Jobs with a similar salary range to Reference Librarian : Children Librarian, Elementary Librarian, Online Researcher