Wisconsin Librarian Salary Guide - 2024

School Librarians

How are school librarian salaries determined in Wisconsin?

School librarian salaries in Wisconsin are determined by two central factors. The first one is the overall funding of the school. The librarian’s salary is part of the funding of the school, and it is determined by the state of Wisconsin based on the size of the school, the number of students, and the library size. The second factor that plays an important role in determining a librarian’s salary is their years of employment and academic level. 

How can one increase their salary?

For most school librarians the most certain way of increasing your salary is to stay in one position for a long period of time. Usually, as the years pass you will notice a gradual increase in your salary. In some cases gaining extra certification can also assist you in increasing your salary but that is something that each school and school district determines on their own, so before you pursue another degree in an effort to increase your salary it is important that you check with your institution if this certification will have the desired effect. 

Librarians and Media Specialists Salaries in urban areas of Wisconsin

Librarians and Media Specialists Salaries in rural areas of Wisconsin

Government or non-profit resources within Wisconsin providing assistance for better school librarian pay

The main association for librarians in Wisconsin is the Wisconsin Library Association. There you will be able to find tools and participate in conferences. You will also be able to meet other lobbying individuals who can assist you in your efforts. You can also direct your attention to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in your lobbying efforts for better pay. 

Public Librarians

How are public librarian salaries determined in Wisconsin?

Public libraries in Wisconsin are entirely funded by the state, this means that the state determines the funding required based on the size of the library, the number of people it services, and the collection that it has. A public librarian’s salary also comes out of that funding, which means that in general institutions that are better funded will be able to offer better pay. A public librarian’s salary is also determined by their position in the library and their years of employment. Sometimes, their educational background may also factor in the calculation of their salary. 

How can one increase their salary?

Since libraries with better funding tend to be able to pay their librarians more handsomely an easy way of increasing your salary is by moving to a library that has better resources. Alternatively, you can apply for a more specialized position or a higher-level position within your library of employment. Specialized positions such as Special Collections librarian or archivists tend to offer better pay to the librarians employed in those positions. 

Government or non-profit resources within Wisconsin providing assistance for better public librarian pay

If you are looking to advocate for better pay for public librarians you can look through the Public Libraries Section of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website so as to see if there is something there that may assist you in your efforts. Alternatively, you can become a member of the Wisconsin Library Association and use their advocacy tools. 

Academic Librarians

How are academic librarian salaries determined in Wisconsin?

Academic salaries are usually determined exclusively by the institution in which the librarian is employed. The criteria with which an academic librarian’s salary is determined tend to be their years of employment, the rank they hold within the library, their position, and sometimes their educational background and research work. Depending on your institution all of the above or some of the above may be used for the calculation of your salary.

How can one increase their salary?

For librarians, academic libraries tend to have the most possibilities for promotions. This is because more university libraries have many specialized or executive positions. They also usually work with a rank system which means that as time passes by you are able to get more promotions. The higher up you move in rank the better your salary will become normal. 

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

For an academic librarian to get tenured they would need to fulfill all the requirements that their institution has put in place. Most commonly these include research work, a high rank within the library, and some references from other members of the academic faculty. It is always best to check with your institution the exact requirements so that you can best determine whether you fit those accordingly. 

While tenure does not mean a higher salary it does mean job stability. This means that it becomes easier for a librarian to budget and know what to expect in terms of income in the years to come. This can help them maximize how they use their earnings and as such, they can increase their overall lifetime earnings. 

Government or non-profit resources within Wisconsin providing assistance for better academic librarian pay

For academic librarians seeking to advocate for better salaries outside of their institution the best organization in Wisconsin is the Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians, this association will be the best way for you to increase and find success in your lobbying efforts.