What's Here? - Table of Contents
School Librarians
How are school librarian salaries determined in Missouri?
The school librarian’s salary in the state of Missouri is determined by the Department of Education of the state. While the department of education does not put out a specific rubric that shows the way in which allocation of funds to specific school libraries takes place, they do have a document with the standards that school librarians need to fulfill. It is likely that these requirements play a role in determining the allocation of funds given to each specific school and thus determining the salary of the librarian based on their needs.
How can one increase their salary?
In the state of Missouri, there appears to be a gradual increase in the salaries of school librarians as their years of experience go up. Therefore, it is safe to ascertain that one of the best ways of increasing your salary is by staying in one position for a long time. Based on the information made available by the Department of Education higher education levels and specialists also seem to be rewarded and as such will most likely give you an increase in your salary.
Librarians and Media Specialists Salaries in urban areas of Missouri
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 50 | $50,750 |
| Columbia, MO | 100 | $57,850 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 90 | $51,310 |
| Joplin, MO | 80 | $57,120 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,110 | $60,560 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 50 | $54,550 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,150 | $60,090 |
| Springfield, MO | 180 | $55,140 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2023 |
Librarians and Media Specialists Salaries in rural areas of Missouri
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 210 | $52,320 |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 200 | $48,830 |
| Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 220 | $46,380 |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 70 | $52,880 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2023 |
Resources within Missouri providing assistance for better school librarian pay.
The best organization in Missouri for lobbying for better salaries is the Missouri Association of School Librarians. The association works closely with the Department of Education of Missouri and is even promoted on its website as an organization for school teachers to join.
Public Librarians
How are public librarian salaries determined in Missouri?
Public librarian salaries in Missouri are allocated and determined in the same way that they are allocated in other states. Based on the area, the number of people that the library is servicing, the education level, and the years of experience of each librarian the salary that they will earn are determined.
How can one increase their salary?
In Missouri, there are larger libraries that work with a Rank system similar to that found in academic institutions. This means that as a librarian there is upward mobility that can be achieved in the workplace as you can move from entry-level positions to a higher level or more specialized positions that provide higher compensation. There are also a lot of opportunities to move to different libraries that have such higher-earning positions if you have the academic level and qualifications required. It is also important that when you first negotiate your contract that you discuss what the increase in your salary will be per year. Most librarians tend to see a gradual increase in their salary as their experience goes up.
Resources within Missouri providing assistance for better public librarian pay.
For those wishing to advocate for better salaries for public librarians, the first resource that they will need to consider is the Libraries, Museum & More page available on the official Missouri State Website. There they will be able to find resources from the Missouri State Library which can provide them with direct information and support for gaining access to the Missouri state government. Lobbying librarians can also join the Missouri library association which is a non-profit association that works towards bettering the conditions for librarians in the state.
Academic Librarians
How are academic librarian salaries determined in Missouri?
Academic salaries in Missouri are determined by the institution of employment of the librarian. If the institution is public the department of education may be a part of determining the allocation of funds that are available to a library. Based on the size of the library, the experience of the librarian, and their educational background the salary made available to an academic librarian is determined.
How can one increase their salary?
In academic libraries, there is a lot more opportunity to increase one’s salary either by moving up the ranks or by gaining more highly specialized positions. Subject librarians and conservationists tend to earn higher salaries than regular librarians in entry-level positions. What’s more, most academic institutions work with a rank system which means that librarians earn higher salaries the longer they have worked in their institution.
How can an academic librarian get tenured and how does this affect their lifetime earning potential?
Tenure is available to academic librarians in almost every institution of higher education. However, the number of tenured librarians does not tend to be high as there are many requirements for tenured librarians. Tenure in its own right does not usually increase the earnings of a librarian but it does imply that there will be more stable and as such the lifetime earnings of the individual might be higher as they will not experience periods of unemployment.
Resources within Missouri providing assistance for better academic librarian pay.
Lobbying for better academic pay is often done within the institution that an academic librarian is employed at. Missouri does not have an association specific to academic librarians that promotes their wishes for higher salaries, but they can join the Missouri Library Association and lobby for better salaries through them.