Profession · Full profile

Librarian

Librarians organize collections, assist patrons with research, and run community learning programs.

Average salary

$68,270

Salary range

$43,660 – $103,990

Training time

1 to 2 years

Job market

As fast as average

6/10

Work-life balance

Excellent

9/10

Librarians connect communities and students with information across print and digital formats. They curate collections of books, ebooks, and databases while teaching patrons how to locate credible resources. Duties also include organizing community workshops and cataloging materials. Official employment data groups librarians and media collections specialists together under one category. Most professionals work predictable schedules with little overtime, serving in public libraries, colleges, schools, or government agencies where they help people find the knowledge they need.

A workday

A day in the life

What does a workday really look like?

A standard weekday shift at a public library branch focused on reference assistance, collection upkeep, and patron programming.

8:30 AM
Morning preparation
Inspect book return drops, start public computer stations, and review incoming requests.
9:00 AM
Reference desk service
Help morning patrons locate reference books, access databases, and resolve printing issues.
11:00 AM
Youth programming
Lead a scheduled children story time session and demonstrate early literacy resources.
12:00 PM
Lunch break
Take midday break away from the service floor.
1:00 PM
Collection development
Review publisher catalogs and order new print titles, ebooks, and audiovisual materials.
2:30 PM
Cataloging and metadata
Assign catalog records and classification numbers to newly acquired materials.
4:00 PM
Staff coordination meeting
Meet with library technicians and volunteers to plan the upcoming community calendar.
5:00 PM
Desk shift and wrap-up
Assist evening shift staff with patron inquiries before completing daily logs.

Task breakdown

A university library shift centered on research instruction, student guidance, and evening reference coverage.

12:00 PM
Shift arrival and planning
Check online research help queues and organize materials for afternoon instruction.
1:00 PM
Information literacy workshop
Teach undergraduate students how to search academic databases and evaluate sources.
2:30 PM
Departmental consultation
Meet with faculty members to select specialized database subscriptions for course curricula.
4:00 PM
Reference service point
Provide one-on-one research consultations to students working on course term papers.
5:30 PM
Dinner break
Scheduled evening meal break.
6:30 PM
Digital catalog review
Update online resource links and catalog electronic journal entries.
8:00 PM
Evening desk supervision and close
Manage desk operations, assist night study groups, and secure service points.

Salary data

What do you really earn?

Salary by experience, sector and region.

Minimum

$43,660

Average

$68,270

Maximum

$103,990

Salary by region

Region	Min	Avg.	Max
National	$43,660	$68,270	$103,990
New York	$52,340	$78,590	$129,970
California	$50,750	$89,790	$132,870
Texas	$49,240	$71,860	$100,790
Florida	$49,320	$67,060	$92,240
Illinois	$38,650	$62,700	$103,540

Typical benefits

Health insurance and retirement plans

Coverage and retirement pensions are frequently provided through municipal, state, or university government employers.

Paid time off and holidays

Standard paid vacation, sick leave, and recognized public holidays come with most full-time library positions.

Summers off for school librarians

Professionals working within primary and secondary schools follow academic calendars and receive summer breaks.

Continuing education support

Employers often provide financial assistance or professional development leave for workshops and conferences.

Pathways

Education pathways

Which paths lead to this profession?

Master's degree

1 to 2 years

Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)

A master's degree is the typical entry level for this job. Most employers prefer a degree from an ALA-accredited program.

Entry requirements: Bachelor's degree in any field

Bachelor's degree

4 years full time

Bachelor's degree in any field

Required before entering an MLIS program. School librarians often have a degree in education.

Costs: About $11,950 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public four-year college for in-state students, and $45,000 at a private nonprofit four-year college
Entry requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

Profile

Skills & personality

Is this a good fit for you?

Hard skills

Reference and researchLocating answers, authoritative sources, and specialized documents for patrons using print and electronic collections.
Cataloging and metadataOrganizing materials according to classification standards so physical and digital assets are easy to find.
Library management systemsOperating automated library software for circulation, patron records, acquisitions, and inventory.
Collection developmentSelecting, evaluating, and purchasing books, ebooks, media, and electronic databases within a set budget.
Database and digital resource searchFormulating detailed search strategies in scholarly databases and digital archives to locate specific research.
Instruction and program planningDesigning educational sessions, technology classes, story times, and research workshops for varied age groups.

Soft skills

CommunicationExplaining complex research methods and library tools clearly to visitors with differing skill levels.
Customer serviceAssisting patrons welcomingly and patiently while resolving inquiries at public service desks.
OrganizationManaging complex catalog records, collection acquisitions, and program schedules in a structured way.
CuriosityDemonstrating an active interest in learning new subjects and exploring unfamiliar information topics.

Is this a good fit for you?

✓
CuriousEnjoys diving into varied topics and uncovering hard-to-find answers for library visitors.
✓
Service-orientedFinds satisfaction in helping community members, students, and researchers solve problems.
✓
Detail-consciousAppreciates precision when creating cataloging records, organizing book stacks, and managing metadata.
✓
MethodicalWorks systematically through multi-step search processes, catalog systems, and collection inventories.
✓
AdaptableShifts comfortably between quiet cataloging tasks, noisy public workshops, and desk service.

Market

Job market & outlook

What does the market look like?

Openings per year

12,600

Trend

Growth

+2.6%

AI impact

5/10

AI search and automated cataloging take over some routine reference and metadata work. Teaching, community programs and helping people judge information stay human.

Regional demand

New York

Demand remains active across public branches, academic institutions, and specialized research facilities.

7/10

Illinois

Opportunities exist within metropolitan public systems, academic centers, and research libraries.

5/10

Florida

Employment opportunities center on county library branches, colleges, and local schools.

4/10

Texas

Openings appear across public library networks, colleges, and regional school districts.

4/10

California

Positions occur in municipal systems, school districts, and university campus libraries.

3/10

Growth

Career paths

Where can this profession take you?

Vertical growth

Library assistant or technician
0-2 years
Supports library operations through shelving, circulation desk staffing, and routine patron processing under supervision.
Librarian
2-5 years
Answers complex reference queries, catalogs collections, leads programs, and selects materials for library holdings.
Senior or department librarian
5-10 years
Supervises section personnel, manages branch budgets, and oversees specialized collections or community programs.
Library director
10+ years
Guides system-wide library strategy, manages overall organizational budgets, and reports to governing boards.

Horizontal move

Instructional designer
Applies expertise in research, curriculum planning, and digital media to develop educational courses and training modules.
Research assistant
Uses advanced database search techniques and source evaluation to support specific academic or corporate investigations.
View Research Assistant

Good to know

Practical info

Working hours: Full time or part time, with mostly regular hours and little overtime.
Remote work: Some cataloging, digital services and virtual reference can be done remotely, but most roles involve working with patrons in the library.
Physical requirements: Mostly indoor work at desks and service points, with some lifting and shelving of books.
Typical employers: Public libraries, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, law firms and corporate libraries, government agencies, and hospitals and medical libraries.
Professional associations: American Library Association (ALA), American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What degree do you need to become a librarian?

You typically need a Master of Library and Information Science degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association. Before entering a master program, you must first complete a four-year bachelor degree in any major. School librarians often choose an undergraduate major in education before pursuing their library media credentials.

Do librarians need a state license or certification?

Licensing requirements depend on the state and the type of library. School librarians need teaching or school library media certification in most states across the country. Public librarians also face state certification rules in some jurisdictions, whereas corporate and law libraries usually rely solely on your graduate degree.

What hours do librarians usually work?

Librarians generally work regular full-time or part-time hours with little overtime. Public and academic libraries frequently require staff to cover evening and weekend shifts because their doors remain open late. School librarians, by contrast, work ordinary school daytime schedules and enjoy summers off when classes are not in session.

Can librarians work from home?

Remote work is possible for specific responsibilities like cataloging, managing digital services, and answering online reference questions. However, most librarian roles require physical presence on site. Working directly with patrons, shelving physical materials, and hosting in-person community events require staff to be present inside the library building.

Where do librarians find employment?

Librarians work for public libraries, primary and secondary schools, and colleges or universities. They also find positions inside private law firms, corporate libraries, government agencies, and medical libraries within hospitals. These varied employers allow professionals to specialize in academic research, legal archives, health sciences, or community service.

How is artificial intelligence affecting library work?

Artificial intelligence handles routine reference questions and automated cataloging tasks, which streamlines basic metadata upkeep. Meanwhile, core duties like instructing students in information literacy, evaluating source credibility, and coordinating community programs remain entirely human. Technology allows librarians to spend more time guiding patrons on complex research.

What is the job growth outlook for librarians?

Employment for librarians and media collections specialists is projected to change by 2.6% over the next decade. That growth rate matches the average expansion for all occupations, yielding about 12,600 projected openings each year nationwide as workers retire or transfer to different roles.

Related professions

In depth

All about librarian

The background, context and details.

Daily tasks and patron services

Librarians help people find reliable information. They teach patrons how to use library technology and evaluate sources. When college students or community members need specialized research materials, librarians guide them through complex research catalogs while showing them how to find books, articles, data, and other critical information. They teach information literacy. Librarians also build collections. Staff members select and buy books, ebooks, databases, and media. Because cataloging requires detailed metadata systems, specialists organize physical and digital materials so patrons can find every item without difficulty. They organize community programs. These events include story times, research workshops, and community events. In larger roles, librarians manage budgets while directing staff and volunteers.

Work environments across communities

Work occurs mostly indoors. Librarians spend their work hours at desks and service points. Some lifting and shelving of books occurs during daily routines. Typical employers include public libraries, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Other professionals work inside law firms, corporate libraries, government agencies, and medical libraries. Academic libraries support university researchers and students. Public libraries serve neighborhood residents.

Education and certification pathways

A master's degree is the typical entry level for this profession. Most employers prefer a Master of Library and Information Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association. This graduate degree requires 1 to 2 years of study. Entry into an MLIS program requires a bachelor's degree in any field. That undergraduate degree typically requires 4 years of full-time study. Completing that preparatory degree costs about $11,950 a year in average published tuition and fees at a public four-year college for in-state students and $45,000 at a private nonprofit four-year college. School librarians often hold a degree in education. In most states, school librarians must earn teaching or school library media certification. Some states require state certification for public librarians.

Work hours and schedules

Most librarians work regular hours with little overtime. Public libraries offer steady full-time or part-time schedules. Because public and academic libraries serve patrons outside standard business hours, librarians in those facilities often work evening and weekend shifts, whereas school librarians follow the standard school day and enjoy summers off. Some cataloging and virtual reference work can be done remotely. Even so, most positions involve working directly with visitors inside the library building. Anyone seeking a career in library science should review degree programs accredited by the American Library Association and connect with local public libraries about entry-level openings.