GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Library Assistants, Clerical
Best States to Be a Library Assistants, Clerical
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a library assistants, clerical salary goes furthest in District of Columbia — a $59,390 BLS median worth $51,778 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 141.9).
Which US states are best for a library assistants, clerical after cost of living and tax?
For a library assistants, clerical, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks District of Columbia #1: a $59,390 BLS median becomes $51,778 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 141.9). Alabama ranks last ($29,743, index 81.5). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
District of Columbia ranks #1 of 50 states for a library assistants, clerical. Index 100 = the average state; 141.9 means pay goes 41.9% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedLibrary Assistants, Clerical — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $59,390 | $2,485 | 109.9 | $51,778 | 141.9 |
| 2 | Nevada | $46,620 | — | 100.0 | $46,630 | 127.8 |
| 3 | Washington | $47,540 | — | 107.0 | $44,425 | 121.8 |
| 4 | Alaska | $44,800 | — | 102.4 | $43,768 | 120.0 |
| 5 | California | $47,860 | $968 | 110.7 | $42,352 | 116.1 |
| 6 | Maryland | $45,910 | $1,848 | 105.0 | $41,980 | 115.1 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $39,610 | $983 | 94.1 | $41,051 | 112.5 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $38,040 | — | 92.7 | $41,040 | 112.5 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $37,410 | — | 91.9 | $40,721 | 111.6 |
| 10 | Montana | $39,070 | $1,167 | 94.6 | $40,048 | 109.8 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $39,970 | $1,339 | 98.6 | $39,172 | 107.4 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $34,530 | — | 89.0 | $38,816 | 106.4 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $42,520 | $1,906 | 105.8 | $38,403 | 105.3 |
| 14 | Oregon | $42,270 | $2,895 | 103.4 | $38,095 | 104.4 |
| 15 | Maine | $37,890 | $1,029 | 97.0 | $37,982 | 104.1 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $35,250 | $596 | 92.2 | $37,581 | 103.0 |
| 17 | Arizona | $38,110 | $478 | 100.7 | $37,379 | 102.5 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $39,100 | $835 | 103.6 | $36,932 | 101.2 |
| 19 | Florida | $37,880 | — | 103.4 | $36,629 | 100.4 |
| 20 | Georgia | $36,410 | $1,316 | 96.3 | $36,445 | 99.9 |
| 21 | Missouri | $33,760 | $706 | 90.8 | $36,397 | 99.8 |
| 22 | Vermont | $36,430 | $802 | 98.0 | $36,371 | 99.7 |
| 23 | Virginia | $38,020 | $1,386 | 101.1 | $36,234 | 99.3 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $33,690 | $1,217 | 90.2 | $36,018 | 98.7 |
| 25 | New Jersey | $39,780 | $675 | 108.8 | $35,941 | 98.5 |
| 26 | Ohio | $33,480 | $138 | 92.8 | $35,939 | 98.5 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $37,400 | — | 104.2 | $35,905 | 98.4 |
| 28 | Delaware | $37,090 | $1,382 | 99.8 | $35,777 | 98.1 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $33,980 | $499 | 93.7 | $35,713 | 97.9 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $34,550 | $927 | 94.3 | $35,646 | 97.7 |
| 31 | Rhode Island | $36,610 | $773 | 102.3 | $35,038 | 96.0 |
| 32 | Idaho | $33,960 | $814 | 95.5 | $34,710 | 95.1 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $31,100 | $1,004 | 86.9 | $34,618 | 94.9 |
| 34 | Michigan | $34,510 | $1,220 | 96.2 | $34,599 | 94.8 |
| 35 | Colorado | $36,130 | $930 | 103.1 | $34,158 | 93.6 |
| 36 | Kansas | $31,550 | $977 | 90.1 | $33,945 | 93.0 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $30,800 | $793 | 89.5 | $33,529 | 91.9 |
| 38 | Illinois | $34,680 | $1,576 | 100.0 | $33,118 | 90.8 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $29,620 | $514 | 88.2 | $32,998 | 90.5 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $29,640 | $870 | 87.8 | $32,751 | 89.8 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $37,110 | $1,374 | 110.0 | $32,502 | 89.1 |
| 42 | Iowa | $29,480 | $1,080 | 87.8 | $32,360 | 88.7 |
| 43 | Texas | $31,200 | — | 97.1 | $32,146 | 88.1 |
| 44 | New York | $35,990 | $1,374 | 107.9 | $32,075 | 87.9 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $28,110 | $432 | 87.0 | $31,831 | 87.3 |
| 46 | Utah | $32,690 | $1,487 | 98.9 | $31,561 | 86.5 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $28,080 | $470 | 90.1 | $30,642 | 84.0 |
| 48 | Pennsylvania | $30,690 | $942 | 97.6 | $30,488 | 83.6 |
| 49 | Indiana | $28,900 | $837 | 93.3 | $30,069 | 82.4 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,530 | $1,112 | 88.8 | $29,743 | 81.5 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In District of Columbia, a $59,390 salary is worth about $48,230 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $6,384 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $53,006 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $67,042, a $18,812 gain over District of Columbia.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $67,042 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $65,650 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $65,310 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $65,296 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $65,100 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $65,092 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $64,646 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $64,398 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $64,073 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $63,520 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $63,238 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $63,161 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Library Assistants, Clerical — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a library assistants, clerical?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, District of Columbia is the best state for a library assistants, clerical: a BLS median of $59,390 is worth $51,778 after the 2025 state income tax ($2,485) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 109.9), an index of 141.9 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a library assistants, clerical at $59,390, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 50 on real pay (index 141.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a library assistants, clerical salary go least far?
- Alabama ranks last of 50 states for a library assistants, clerical: a $27,530 BLS median is worth only $29,743 after tax and cost of living (index 81.5). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a library assistants, clerical is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.