www.bls.gov
Open in
urlscan Pro
2a02:26f0:3500:88e::18b9
Public Scan
URL:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm
Submission: On April 28 via api from US — Scanned from DE
Submission: On April 28 via api from US — Scanned from DE
Form analysis
3 forms found in the DOMGET /search/query
<form method="get" action="/search/query">
<label for="bls-banner-search-submit1" class="invisible">Search button</label>
<input type="image" src="/images/buttons/search_button_blue_16.png" name="term" id="bls-banner-search-submit1" alt="BLS Search Submit" title="Submit">
<label for="bls-banner-search-input1" class="invisible">Search:</label>
<input name="query" type="text" id="bls-banner-search-input1" value="Search BLS.gov" title="Search Input" onclick="this.value=''; this.onclick = null;">
</form>
GET /search/query
<form method="get" action="/search/query">
<label for="bls-banner-search-submit" class="invisible">Search button</label>
<input type="image" src="/images/buttons/search_button_blue_20.png" name="term" id="bls-banner-search-submit" alt="BLS Search Submit" title="Submit">
<label for="bls-banner-search-input" class="invisible">Search:</label>
<input name="query" type="text" id="bls-banner-search-input" value="Search BLS.gov" title="Search Input" onclick="this.value=''; this.onclick = null;">
</form>
GET /search/query
<form action="/search/query" id="cse-search-box" method="get">
<input name="prefix" type="hidden" id="search-secondary-nav-category" value="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/">
<input type="text" onclick="this.value=''; this.onclick = null;" title="Enter Search Term" value="Search Handbook" id="ooh-banner-search-input" name="query">
<input type="submit" name="sa" value="Go" id="ooh-banner-search-submit" title="Submit Search">
</form>
Text Content
Skip to Content An official website of the United States government Here is how you know United States Department of Labor The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Follow Us | Release Calendar | Blog Search button Search: Menu * Search button Search: * Home * About BLS * History * Our Leadership * Budget and Performance * Questions and Answers * A-Z Index * Glossary * Careers at BLS * BLS Speakers Available * Errata * Contact BLS * Overview of BLS Statistics * Demographics * Industries * Business Costs * Occupations * Geography * Resources For * Business Leaders * Consumers * Developers * Economists * Investors * Jobseekers * Media * Public Policymakers * Researcher * Students & Teachers * Survey Respondents * Subjects * Inflation & Prices * Consumer Price Index * Producer Price Indexes * Import/Export Price Indexes * Contract Escalation * Price Index Research * Pay & Benefits * Employment Costs * National Compensation Data * Wage Data by Occupation * Earnings by Demographics * Earnings by Industry * County Wages * Benefits * Compensation Research * Strikes & Lockouts * Spending & Time Use * Consumer Expenditures * How Americans Spend Time * Unemployment * National Unemployment Rate * State & Local Unemployment Rates * Unemployment Research * Employment * National Employment * State & Local Employment * County Employment * Worker Characteristics * American Indian Report * Employment Projections * Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey * COVID-19 Business Response * Employment by Occupation * Work Experience Over Time * Business Employment Dynamics * Foreign Direct Investment * Employment Research * Workplace Injuries * Occupational Requirements * Productivity * Labor and Total Factor Productivity * Productivity Research * International * International Technical Cooperation * Import/Export Price Indexes * * Geographic Information * New England (Boston) * New York-New Jersey (NY City) * Mid-Atlantic (Philadelphia) * Southeast (Atlanta) * Midwest (Chicago) * Southwest (Dallas) * Mountain-Plains (Kansas City) * West (San Francisco) * Data Tools * Data Retrieval Tools * BLS Popular Series * Series Report * Top Picks, One Screen, Multi-Screen, and Maps * Data Finder * Public Data API * Charts and Applications * Charts for Economic News Releases * CPI Inflation Calculator * Injury and Illness Calculator * Pay Measure Comparison * Demographic Data Sources * COVID-19 Economic Trends * Industry Productivity Viewer * Employment and Wages Data Viewer * Industry Finder from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages * Customized Tables * U.S. Economy at a Glance * Regions, States & Areas at a Glance * Industry at a Glance * Text Files * News Release Tables * More Sources of Data * Restricted Data Access * Discontinued Databases * Questions & Answers * Special Notices * Publications * Latest Publications * The Economics Daily * Monthly Labor Review * Beyond the Numbers * Spotlight on Statistics * Reports * Commissioner's Corner * Videos * Career Outlook * Occupational Outlook Handbook * Geographic Profile * Handbook of Methods * Research Papers * Copyright Information * Contact & Help * Weekly Update * Economic Releases * Latest Releases * Major Economic Indicators * Schedules for news Releases * By Month * By News Release * Current Year * Prior Years * Archived News Releases * Employment & Unemployment * Monthly * Quarterly, annual, and other * Inflation & Prices * Pay & Benefits & Workplace Injuries * Productivity & Technology * Employment Projections * Regional News Releases * Classroom * K-12 Student & Teacher Resources * Games & Quizzes * Student's Desk * Teacher's Desk * Questions & Answers * Beta * Redesigned News Releases * Bureau of Labor Statistics * Publications * Occupational Outlook Handbook * Education, Training, and Library * OOH HOME | * OCCUPATION FINDER | * OOH FAQ | * OOH GLOSSARY | * A-Z INDEX | * OOH SITE MAP Occupational Outlook Handbook > Education, Training, and Library > LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS PRINTER-FRIENDLY * Summary * What They Do * Work Environment * How to Become One * Pay * Job Outlook * State & Area Data * Similar Occupations * More Info SUMMARY Please enable javascript to play this video. Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyOpL1Q8N-Y. Quick Facts: Librarians and Library Media Specialists 2021 Median Pay $61,190 per year $29.42 per hour Typical Entry-Level Education Master's degree Work Experience in a Related Occupation None On-the-job Training None Number of Jobs, 2020 143,500 Job Outlook, 2020-30 9% (As fast as average) Employment Change, 2020-30 13,000 WHAT LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS DO Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. WORK ENVIRONMENT Librarians and library media specialists work for local governments, schools, and other organizations. Most work full time, although part-time work is common. HOW TO BECOME A LIBRARIAN OR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST Librarians typically need a master’s degree in library science (MLS). School librarians and library media specialists typically need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, along with a teaching certificate; requirements vary by state. PAY The median annual wage for librarians and library media specialists was $61,190 in May 2021. JOB OUTLOOK Employment of librarians and library media specialists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 15,200 openings for librarians and library media specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. STATE & AREA DATA Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for librarians and library media specialists. SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of librarians and library media specialists with similar occupations. MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING LINKS TO O*NET Learn more about librarians and library media specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. What They Do -> WHAT LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS DO ABOUT THIS SECTION Librarian's job duties vary based on the type of library they work in, such as a public, school, or medical library. Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use. Their job duties may change based on the type of setting they work in, such as public, school, or medical libraries. DUTIES Librarians and library media specialists typically do the following: * Create and use databases of library materials * Organize library materials so they are easy to find * Help library patrons to conduct research to evaluate search results and reference materials * Research new books and materials by reading book reviews, publishers’ announcements, and catalogs * Maintain existing collections and choose new books, videos, and other materials for purchase * Plan programs for different audiences, such as story time for children * Teach classes about information resources * Research computers and other equipment for purchase, as needed * Train and supervise library technicians, assistants, other support staff, and volunteers * Prepare library budgets In small libraries, these workers are often responsible for many or all aspects of library operations. In large libraries, they usually focus on one aspect of the library, such as user services, technical services, or administrative services. The following are examples of types of librarians and library media specialists: Academic librarians assist students, faculty, and staff in postsecondary institutions. They help students research topics related to their coursework and teach students how to access information. They also assist faculty and staff in locating resources related to their research projects or studies. Some campuses have multiple libraries, and librarians may specialize in a particular subject. Administrative services librarians manage libraries, prepare budgets, and negotiate contracts for library materials and equipment. Some conduct public relations or fundraising activities for the library. Public librarians work in their communities to serve all members of the public. They help patrons find books to read for pleasure; conduct research for schoolwork, business, or personal interest; and learn how to access the library’s resources. Many public librarians plan programs for patrons, such as story time for children, book clubs, or educational activities. School librarians, sometimes called school library media specialists, typically work in elementary, middle, and high school libraries. They teach students how to use library resources, including technology. They also help teachers develop lesson plans and find materials for classroom instruction. Special librarians work in settings other than school or public libraries. They are sometimes called information professionals. Businesses, museums, government agencies, and many other groups have their own libraries that use special librarians. The main purpose of these libraries and information centers is to serve the information needs of the organization that houses the library. Therefore, special librarians collect and organize materials focused on those subjects. Special librarians may need an additional degree in the subject that they specialize in. The following are examples of special librarians: * Corporate librarians assist employees of private businesses in conducting research and finding information. They work for a wide range of organizations, including insurance companies, consulting firms, and publishers. * Law librarians conduct research or help lawyers, judges, law clerks, and law students locate and analyze legal resources. They often work in law firms and law school libraries. * Medical librarians, also called health science librarians, help health professionals, patients, and researchers find health and science information. They may provide information about new clinical trials and medical treatments and procedures, teach medical students how to locate medical information, or answer consumers’ health questions. Technical services librarians obtain, prepare, and organize print and electronic library materials. They arrange materials for patrons’ ease in finding information. They are also responsible for ordering new library materials and archiving to preserve older items. User services librarians help patrons conduct research using both electronic and print resources. They teach patrons how to use library resources to find information on their own. This may include familiarizing patrons with catalogs of print materials, helping them access and search digital libraries, or educating them on Internet search techniques. Some user services librarians work with a particular audience, such as children or young adults. <- Summary Work Environment -> WORK ENVIRONMENT ABOUT THIS SECTION Librarians plan outreach programs targeted toward different groups, such as story time for children. Librarians and library media specialists held about 143,500 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of librarians and library media specialists were as follows: Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private 33% Local government, excluding education and hospitals 29 Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private 17 Information 8 Most librarians and library media specialists typically work on the floor with patrons, behind the circulation desk, or in offices. Some have private offices, but those in small libraries usually share work space with others. WORK SCHEDULES Most librarians and library media specialists work full time, although part-time work is common. Public and academic librarians often work on weekends and evenings and may work holidays. School librarians and library media specialists usually have the same work and vacation schedules as teachers, including summers off. Special librarians, such as corporate librarians, typically work normal business hours but may need to work more than 40 hours per week to help meet deadlines. <- What They Do How to Become One -> HOW TO BECOME A LIBRARIAN OR LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST ABOUT THIS SECTION Some librarians assist patrons with research. Librarians typically need a master’s degree in library science (MLS). School librarians and library media specialists typically need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, along with a teaching certificate; requirements vary by state. EDUCATION Librarians typically need a master's degree in library science. Some colleges and universities have other names for their library science programs, such as Master of Information Studies or Master of Library and Information Studies. Students need a bachelor’s degree in any major to enter MLS or similar programs. MLS programs usually take 1 to 2 years to complete. Coursework typically covers information such as learning different research methods and strategies, online reference systems, and Internet search techniques. The American Library Association accredits master’s degree programs in library and information studies. Requirements for public school librarians and library media specialists vary by state. Most states require an MLS or a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education, often with a specialization related to library media. Special librarians, such as those in a corporate, law, or medical library, usually supplement a master’s degree in library science with knowledge of their specialized field. Some employers require special librarians to have a master’s degree, a professional degree, or a Ph.D. in that subject. For example, a law librarian may be required to have a law degree. LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS Public school librarians and library media specialists typically need a teacher’s certification. Some states require school librarians to pass a standardized test, such as the PRAXIS II Library Media Specialist test. Contact your state department of education for details about requirements in your state. Some states also require certification for librarians in public libraries. Contact your state’s licensing board for specific requirements. IMPORTANT QUALITIES Communication skills. Librarians and library media specialists need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons understand. Initiative. New information, technology, and resources constantly change librarians’ and library media specialists' duties. Workers must be able and willing to continually update their knowledge of these changes to be effective at their jobs. Interpersonal skills. Librarians and library media specialists must be able to work both as part of a team and with the public or with researchers. Organizational skills. Librarians and library media specialists help patrons research topics efficiently. They should be able to direct the logical use of resources, databases, and other materials. Problem-solving skills. These workers need to be able to identify a problem, figure out where to find information to solve the problem, and draw conclusions based on the information found. Reading skills. Librarians and library media specialists must be excellent readers. Those working in special libraries are expected to read the latest literature in their field of specialization. <- Work Environment Pay -> PAY ABOUT THIS SECTION LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS Median annual wages, May 2021 Librarians and media collections specialists $61,190 Librarians, curators, and archivists $49,060 Total, all occupations $45,760 Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics The median annual wage for librarians and library media specialists was $61,190 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $97,870. In May 2021, the median annual wages for librarians and library media specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private $62,550 Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private 61,640 Local government, excluding education and hospitals 60,130 Information 50,340 Most librarians and library media specialists work full time, although part-time work is common. Public and academic librarians often work on weekends and evenings, and may work holidays. School librarians and library media specialists usually have the same work and vacation schedules as teachers, including summers off. Special librarians, such as corporate librarians, typically work normal business hours but may need to work more than 40 hours per week to help meet deadlines. <- How to Become One Job Outlook -> JOB OUTLOOK ABOUT THIS SECTION LIBRARIANS AND LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS Percent change in employment, projected 2020-30 Librarians and media collections specialists 9% Total, all occupations 8% Librarians, curators, and archivists 7% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program Employment of librarians and library media specialists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 15,200 openings for librarians and library media specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. EMPLOYMENT Communities are increasingly turning to libraries for a variety of services and activities. Therefore, there will be a need for librarians to manage libraries and help patrons find information. Parents value the learning opportunities that libraries present for children because libraries have information and learning materials that children often cannot access from home. In addition, the availability of electronic information and media materials is expected to increase the demand for these workers in research and special libraries, where patrons may need help sorting through the large amount of digital information and collections materials. Employment projections data for librarians and library media specialists, 2020-30 Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2020 Projected Employment, 2030 Change, 2020-30 Employment by Industry Percent Numeric SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program Librarians and media collections specialists 25-4022 143,500 156,500 9 13,000 Get data <- Pay State & Area Data -> STATE & AREA DATA ABOUT THIS SECTION OCCUPATIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND WAGE STATISTICS (OEWS) The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. * Librarians and media collections specialists PROJECTIONS CENTRAL Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. CAREERONESTOP CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. <- Job Outlook Similar Occupations -> SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS ABOUT THIS SECTION This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of librarians and library media specialists. Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION 2021 MEDIAN PAY Adult Basic and Secondary Education and ESL Teachers Adult basic and secondary education and ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers instruct adults in fundamental skills, such as reading and speaking English. They also help students earn their high school equivalency credential. Bachelor's degree $59,720 Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers Archivists and curators oversee institutions’ collections, such as of historical items or of artwork. Museum technicians and conservators prepare and restore items in those collections. See How to Become One $50,120 High School Teachers High school teachers teach academic lessons and various skills that students will need to attend college and to enter the job market. Bachelor's degree $61,820 Instructional Coordinators Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness. Master's degree $63,740 Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling. Bachelor's degree $61,350 Library Technicians and Assistants Library technicians and assistants help librarians with all aspects of running a library. See How to Become One $34,050 Middle School Teachers Middle school teachers educate students, typically in sixth through eighth grades. Bachelor's degree $61,320 Postsecondary Teachers Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. See How to Become One $79,640 <- State & Area Data More Info -> CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SECTION For more information about librarians and library media specialists, including accredited library education programs, visit American Library Association For more information about becoming a school librarian or library media specialist, contact your state board of education. For information about medical librarians, visit Medical Library Association For information about law librarians, visit American Association of Law Libraries For information about many different types of special librarians, visit Special Libraries Association O*NET Librarians and Media Collections Specialists <- Similar Occupations Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Librarians and Library Media Specialists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm (visited April 19, 2022). Last Modified Date: Monday, April 18, 2022 WHAT THEY DO The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties. WORK ENVIRONMENT The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face. HOW TO BECOME ONE The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation. PAY The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated—annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH. STATE & AREA DATA The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. JOB OUTLOOK The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings. SIMILAR OCCUPATIONS The Similar Occupations tab describes occupations that share similar duties, skills, interests, education, or training with the occupation covered in the profile. CONTACTS FOR MORE INFORMATION The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). 2021 MEDIAN PAY The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2021, the median annual wage for all workers was $45,760. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. WORK EXPERIENCE IN A RELATED OCCUPATION Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. NUMBER OF JOBS, 2020 The employment, or size, of this occupation in 2020, which is the base year of the 2020-30 employment projections. JOB OUTLOOK, 2020-30 The projected percent change in employment from 2020 to 2030. The average growth rate for all occupations is 8 percent. EMPLOYMENT CHANGE, 2020-30 The projected numeric change in employment from 2020 to 2030. ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. EMPLOYMENT CHANGE, PROJECTED 2020-30 The projected numeric change in employment from 2020 to 2030. GROWTH RATE (PROJECTED) The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2020 to 2030. PROJECTED NUMBER OF NEW JOBS The projected numeric change in employment from 2020 to 2030. PROJECTED GROWTH RATE The projected percent change in employment from 2020 to 2030. 2021 MEDIAN PAY The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. In May 2021, the median annual wage for all workers was $45,760. Recommend this page using: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn * Home * Subjects * Data Tools * Publications * Economic Releases * Classroom * Beta U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections PSB Suite 2135 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC 20212-0001 Telephone: 1-202-691-5700 www.bls.gov/ooh Contact OOH resources * Inspector General (OIG) * Budget and Performance * No Fear Act * USA.gov * Vote.gov about the site * Sitemap * Freedom of Information Act * Privacy and Security Statement * Disclaimers * Linking and Copyright Info * Important Website Notices * Help and Tutorials Connect With BLS Twitter Youtube Email * Publications * Occupational Outlook Handbook * Education, Training, and Library