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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Salary in Minnesota: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary really buy you in Minnesota?

Minnesota is 2.3% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$77,650
Median annual (2025)
+2.4%
Real Purchasing Power
$79,477
COL-adjusted (RPP=97.7)

Minnesota Cost of Living Index

Minnesota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.7, meaning prices are 2.3% lower the national average. A Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earning $77,650 in Minnesota has the equivalent purchasing power of $79,477 in an average-cost US state.

MN: 97.7
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $48,040 $49,170 +$1,130
25th Percentile (P25) $62,570 $64,042 +$1,472
Median (P50) $77,650 $79,477 +$1,827
75th Percentile (P75) $90,510 $92,640 +$2,130
90th Percentile (P90) $99,990 $102,343 +$2,353
Key Insight

Minnesota's cost of living is close to the national average, so $77,650 keeps most of its value at $79,477 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Minnesota Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 97.7

With an RPP of 97.7, Minnesota is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

+2.4%

After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living, $77,650 nominal nets out to $79,478 in real purchasing power — a small 2.4% gain. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Librarians and Media Collections Specialists.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Minnesota

#7 / 51

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists, Minnesota places #7 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (After Cost of Living)

Where does Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$91,102
RPP 109.8
2. Nevada
$87,697
RPP 96.4
$84,352
RPP 105.0
$82,804
RPP 116.6
5. Georgia
$80,114
RPP 95.8
$79,813
RPP 112.5
$79,477
RPP 97.7
$79,285
RPP 98.0
9. Alaska
$77,264
RPP 102.0
10. Virginia
$75,837
RPP 102.1

Minnesota ranks #7 out of 51 states for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Librarians and Media Collections Specialists take-home pay in Minnesota after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Minnesota after cost of living?

A Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Minnesota earns a median salary of $77,650 per year. After adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (RPP=97.7), the real purchasing power is $79,477 — a +2.4% difference.

Is Minnesota expensive to live in?

Minnesota's cost of living is 2.3% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Minnesota is 97.7 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Minnesota: $77,650 x (100 / 97.7) = $79,477. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Minnesota financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Librarians and Media Collections Specialists in Minnesota enjoys 2.4% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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