SSalario

Librarian Salary in Arlington, TX — 2026

Librarian salary data for Arlington, TX — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.

The median Librarian salary in Arlington, TX is $61,750 per year ($5,146/month, $30/hr). This reflects the local cost of living index of 95, which is 5% below the national average.

Entry Level
$40K
$19/hr
Median
$62K
$30/hr
Senior
$72K
$35/hr
Top Earner
$91K
$44/hr

Librarian Take-Home Pay in Arlington

Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)

Gross Annual$61,750
Federal Tax-$5,230
State Tax (0.0%)-$0
FICA (SS + Medicare)-$4,724
Annual Take-Home$51,796
Monthly Take-Home$4,316

Living Cost Comparison

Median Rent$1,300/mo
Rent-to-Income Ratio25.3%
Median Home Price$270,000
Cost of Living Index95
City Median Salary$60,000
Librarian vs City Median+$1,750

Librarian Requirements

Education
Master's Degree (MLIS)
Experience
0-2 years
Job Growth
-3.0% (2024-2034)

Key Skills

Information RetrievalCatalogingDigital ResourcesReference ServicesProgramming

Arlington Job Market Overview

Arlington, Texas has a population of 394,266 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Entertainment, Healthcare, Manufacturing. The local job growth rate is 2.2%, and the average commute time is 28 minutes.

Salary Percentile Breakdown — Librarian in Arlington

Based on the cost-of-living-adjusted distribution for Librarian in Arlington, TX, here's how earnings break down across the workforce:

PercentileAnnual SalaryHourly EquivalentCareer Stage
10th (lowest)$39,900$19/hrEntry-level, < 1 yr exp.
25th$50,825$24/hrJunior, 1-3 yrs exp.
50th (median)$61,750$30/hrMid-career, 0-2 years
75th$72,200$35/hrSenior, 5-10 yrs exp.
90th (top)$91,200$44/hrLead/Principal, 10+ yrs

Percentiles estimated using a log-normal salary distribution model calibrated to Librarian compensation data. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Arlington's Entertainment sector.

5-Year Salary Trajectory

Librarian salaries in Arlington have grown approximately 8.0% over the past 5 years, outpacing local CPI inflation in many cases. Here's the historical and projected trajectory:

5 Years Ago
$57,176
Adjusted for Arlington COL
Today (2026)
$61,750
+8.0% vs 5y ago
Projected 2031
$66,690
If growth continues

Year-over-year, an average Librarian can expect a 16.0% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in Arlington. Negotiation, certifications (State Certification, ALA Accredited MLIS), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.

Arlington vs National Average

The national median Librarian salary is $65,000. In Arlington, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $61,750 is 5.0% below the national figure. This reflects Arlington's cost of living index of 95 (lower than the national average of 100).

For Librarians, this means: rent typically consumes 30.1% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Arlington costs about 5.2× annual take-home. Homeownership in Arlington on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.

Industry Context: Entertainment in Arlington

Arlington's economy is anchored by Entertainment, Healthcare, Manufacturing, with 394,266 residents and 3.0% unemployment as of 2026. Librarians working in the Entertainment sector typically earn at or above the local median due to industry-specific demand. The state's overall job growth rate is 2.2%, and Librarian occupations specifically are projected to grow -3.0% nationally through 2034 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).

Methodology & Data Sources

How we calculate Librarian salaries in Arlington, TX:

  1. Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available. For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
  2. Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Arlington index of 95 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs checked separately.
  3. Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
  4. Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), TX state income tax of 0.0%, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
  5. Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.

Authoritative data sources:

Last reviewed: 2026. Salary data updated annually as new BLS releases become available. Librarian salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Entertainment vs others in Arlington), specific skill set (Information Retrieval, Cataloging, Digital Resources), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Librarian salary in Arlington, TX?
The median Librarian salary in Arlington, TX is $61,750 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 95. Entry-level Librarians earn around $39,900, while senior-level professionals can earn $72,200 or more.
How much does a Librarian take home in Arlington after taxes?
A Librarian earning the median salary of $61,750 in Arlington, TX takes home approximately $51,796 per year ($4,316/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 16.1%.
Is Arlington a good city for Librarians?
Arlington, TX has a cost of living index of 95 (below national average). Librarians here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Entertainment, Healthcare, Manufacturing.
What skills are needed for a Librarian in Arlington?
Key skills for Librarians include Information Retrieval, Cataloging, Digital Resources, Reference Services, Programming. Typical education requirement is Master's Degree (MLIS). Valuable certifications include State Certification, ALA Accredited MLIS.
How does Librarian salary in Arlington compare to the national average?
The national median Librarian salary is $65,000. In Arlington, the adjusted salary is $61,750, which is 5.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.

Calculate Your Exact Take-Home Pay

Use our free paycheck calculator to see your after-tax income based on your specific salary, deductions, and filing status.

Calculate Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Librarian salary in Arlington, TX?

The median Librarian salary in Arlington, TX is $61,750 per year as of 2026. This is adjusted for the local cost of living index of 95. Entry-level Librarians earn around $39,900, while senior-level professionals can earn $72,200 or more.

How much does a Librarian take home in Arlington after taxes?

A Librarian earning the median salary of $61,750 in Arlington, TX takes home approximately $51,796 per year ($4,316/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 16.1%.

Is Arlington a good city for Librarians?

Arlington, TX has a cost of living index of 95 (below national average). Librarians here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Entertainment, Healthcare, Manufacturing.

What skills are needed for a Librarian in Arlington?

Key skills for Librarians include Information Retrieval, Cataloging, Digital Resources, Reference Services, Programming. Typical education requirement is Master's Degree (MLIS). Valuable certifications include State Certification, ALA Accredited MLIS.

How does Librarian salary in Arlington compare to the national average?

The national median Librarian salary is $65,000. In Arlington, the adjusted salary is $61,750, which is 5.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.