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 142,200 librarians are employed i...

Quick Facts


Median Salary

$64,370

Employment Prospects

Fair

Minimum Education Level

Masters Degree


Experience

Internship


Skills

Computer|Information Management|Organizational


Personality Traits

Conventional|Helpful|Organized

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 $64,370 in May 2023. Salaries ranged from less than $38,690 to more than $101,970. Fifty percent of librarians earned between $50,930 and $80,980. Lib...

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 2033, 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...