Minnesota Librarian Salary Guide - 2024

School Librarians

How are school librarian salaries determined in Minnesota? 

Librarian salaries in Minnesota are determined by the Department of Education of Minnesota and the allocation of funds that they determine is necessary for the functioning of a specific school library. The determinants used do not vary from those used by other states and they include the size of the school, the area, the number of students as well as the years of experience and level of education of the teacher. 

How can one increase their salary?

There is no evidence to support that Minnesota school librarians may have the opportunity of increasing their salary through furthering their education skills or specializing in a specific subject. Instead, the best way of increasing their salary appears to be through staying in their position for a long time and therefore experiencing the gradual increase of their salary as their years of experience increase. 

Librarians and Media Specialists Salaries in urban areas of Minnesota

Librarians and Media Specialists Salaries in rural areas of Minnesota

Resources within Minnesota providing assistance for better school librarian pay.

Minnesota has one main organization that deals with lobbying for better salaries for school librarians and that is the Minnesota Library Association which within its website has an advocacy section. There is also an organization dedicated to school library media specialists known as the Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota. This organization also appears to carry out advocacy work but it is not focused on helping librarians. 

Public Librarians

How are public librarian salaries determined in Minnesota? 

Minnesota public libraries are supported by the Department of Education of Minnesota through state income and local property taxes. 

The Department of Education claims to have a cooperation agreement with libraries so as to create cost-effective access to their services. The determinants for the public librarian’s salary are not stated on the website, but do most likely include the area that the library is located in, the number of people it services, and the experience level of the librarian. 

How can one increase their salary?

In larger public libraries there are usually opportunities to take on different positions that are either higher or more specialized. These positions will provide librarians with the opportunity to increase their salaries. To earn such positions, it is likely that they will need to gain further certification or experience to be eligible for these positions. 

Resources within Minnesota providing assistance for better public librarian pay.

The Minnesota Library Association is the main association and organization lobbying for better salaries for public librarians within the state. The Association also has a public libraries division that holds discussions and conferences and can be a great way of lobbying for better pay and meeting like-minded lobbyists and individuals to support your cause. 

Academic Librarians

How are academic librarian salaries determined in Minnesota? 

Academic librarians’ salaries in Minnesota are mainly determined by the academic institution that the library is located in. Different academic institutions will have varying levels of funding available to them. This funding could be coming from the tuition fees charged, public state funding, and private donations and funding. The amount of funding that a library can generate will also alter the salaries of the librarians. The size of the library is also a determining factor in the salary of academic librarians. 

How can one increase their salary?

Academic libraries tend to be the libraries that have the most available specialized and higher-ranking positions. In academic settings further education, specialization and research can also leave a positive mark and are highly valued. This means that by furthering your specialization and reaching for either more specialized positions or higher ranks within the library you will be able to generate a higher income. Most academic libraries tend to have subject librarians, executive positions, and conservation positions, all of these will pay more than a general librarian’s position would. It is also important to note, that most academic institutions work with a rank system which means that the longer you spent in the institution the higher your salary will be. 

How can an academic librarian get tenured and how does this affect their lifetime earning potential?

For academic librarians to get tenured they will need to have climbed up their academic libraries ranks. Once they have reached the top, and have become a high-earning librarian they might also be eligible to apply or be recommended for tenure. The specific requirements and timeline to receive tenure vary in each academic institution but by checking your institution’s website you should be able to access the requirements for the position and rank you wish to achieve. 

Being a tenured librarian means that you are a high earner and part of the academic institution’s faculty. It also means that there is less financial instability in your future as tenured librarians are highly unlikely to get fired and there would need to be a specific incident for them to be removed from their position. In the case that they are fired they also gain a much larger compensation than non-tenured librarians would. 

Resources within Minnesota providing assistance for better academic librarian pay.

Minnesota has its own Academic and Research Libraries Division (ARLD), which is a forum that advocates for academic and research Librarians. The forum is part of the Minnesota Library Association and it is one of the best places for lobbying academic librarians.