Education
Library Technicians
Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries.
Median salary (BLS)
$44,580
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$29k – $63k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $85,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Library Technicians
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Library Technicians
Entry / Junior
$29,300
~2 yrs to advance
Library Technicians
Established
$44,580
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Library Technicians
Senior
$53,830
Key skills
A typical day
- •Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.
- •Answer routine telephone or in-person reference inquiries, referring patrons to librarians for further assistance, when necessary.
- •Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed.
- •Deliver and retrieve items throughout the library by hand or using pushcart.
- •Process print and non-print library materials to prepare them for inclusion in library collections.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Education
Explore all- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
- University of Wisconsin–Madison49% admit · $72,000 grad pay
- Vanderbilt University7% admit · $88,000 grad pay
- University of Virginia19% admit · $85,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.