Librarians held about 134,800 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of librarians were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 33% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 31 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 18 |
| Information | 7 |
Most librarians typically work on the floor with patrons, behind the circulation desk, or in offices. Some librarians have private offices, but those in small libraries usually share work space with others.
Work Schedules
Most librarians work full time. Public and academic librarians often work on weekends and evenings and may work holidays. School librarians 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.
Librarians typically need a master’s degree in library science. Some positions have additional requirements, such as a teaching certificate or a degree in another field.
Education
Librarians typically need a master’s degree in library science (MLS). 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 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.
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 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.
Librarians typically have an interest in the Helping, Persuading and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Helping or Persuading or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a librarian, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Librarians should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills. Librarians need to be able to explain ideas and information in ways that patrons and users understand.
Computer skills. Librarians use computers to help patrons research topics. They also use computers to classify resources, create databases, and perform administrative duties.
Initiative. New information, technology, and resources constantly change the details of what librarians do. They must be able and willing to continually update their knowledge on these changes to be effective at their jobs in the varying circumstances.
Interpersonal skills. Librarians must be able to work both as part of a team and with the public or with researchers.
Problem-solving skills. Librarians conduct and assist with research. This requires being able to identify a problem, figure out where to find information, and draw conclusions based on the information found.
Reading skills. Librarians must be excellent readers. Those working in special libraries are expected to continually read the latest literature in their field of specialization.
The median annual wage for librarians was $59,050 in May 2018. 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 $34,630, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $93,050.
In May 2018, the median annual wages for librarians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | $64,130 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 60,780 |
| Information | 56,970 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 53,060 |
Most librarians work full time. Public and academic librarians often work on weekends and evenings, and may work holidays. School librarians 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.
Employment of librarians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
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 that children often cannot access from home. In addition, the availability of electronic information is also expected to increase the demand for librarians in research and special libraries, where patrons may need help sorting through the large amount of digital information.
Job Prospects
About 14,700 openings for librarians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who exit the labor force, such as to retire, and from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations.
A degree from an American Library Association accredited program and work experience may lead to job opportunities. Candidates who are able to adapt with the rapidly changing technology will have the best prospects.
For more information about librarians, including accredited library education programs, visit
For information about medical librarians, visit
For information about law librarians, visit
American Association of Law Libraries
For information about many different types of special librarians, visit