Librarians
Overview
Introduction
As prominent professionals in the information services field, librarians help others find information and select materials best suited to their needs. Librarians work in public, academic, and special libraries; school library media centers; corporations; and government agencies. They are key personnel wherever books, magazines, audiovisual materials, and a variety of other informational materials are cataloged and kept. Librarians help make access to these reference materials possible. Approximately 134,800 librarians are employed i...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaries depend on such factors as the location, size, and type of library, the amount of experience the librarian has, and the responsibilities of the position. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median annual earnings of librarians were $59,050 in May 2018. Salaries ranged from less than $34,630 to more than $93,050. Librarians working in elementary and secondary schools earned $60,78...
Work Environment
Most libraries are pleasant and comfortable places in which to assist those doing research, studying, or reading for pleasure. Librarians must do a considerable amount of reading to keep informed in order to serve library patrons. They must also strive to stay abreast of constantly changing technology, which may seem overwhelming at times.
Some librarians, such as reference or special li...
Outlook
Employment for librarians is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). More librarians will be needed to manage operations and help patrons locate information as libraries provide additional activities and services to communities. Parents, especially, value the information their children can access through librar...