What's the Salary for Someone with a Library Science Degree?
A master's degree in library science is typically required in order to obtain a position as a librarian in public, academic and specialized libraries. Read on for information about the average salary for librarians, as well as the factors that affect wages.
Average Salary Overview
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on May 2021 that the salary range for most librarians was between $37,300 and $97,870 per year.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $61,190</td></tr>
<tr><td>Required Education</td><td>Usually a master's degree in library science (MLS)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Professional Certification</td><td>Public schools generally require teacher certification. Some states require certification for public library positions.</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td>Library technicians and assistants; Museum curators and archivists</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry">Salary by Industry</h3><p>The type of salary one can expect with a library science degree depends on the work environment. Elementary and secondary schools had the highest employment level of any industry and offered an average salary of $66,520, as reported by the BLS in May 2021. Librarians in junior colleges earned an average of $70,830, while those working in college and university libraries earned an average of $69,070.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByLocation">Salary by Location</h3><p>According to the BLS in 2021, average wages for states with the highest librarian employment were $76,310 for New York, $61,330 for Texas, $80,740 for California, $58,740 for Florida, and $60,910 for Illinois. The top-paid librarians made $76,310-$87,540 and worked in states that included the District of Columbia, Washington, California, Maryland and New York.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryByExperience">Salary by Experience</h3><p><i>PayScale.com</i> reported in 2023 that the median annual wage was $43,688 for entry-level librarians with no experience. Mid-career salaries increased to $53,973 with 5-9 years of experience and an experienced librarian to $58,255 with 10-19 years of experience.
</p><h3 id="section---JobOutlook">Job Outlook</h3><p>According to the BLS, there were 138,400 librarians employed in May 2021. Most jobs were in school and academic libraries, as well as in local government. The BLS expects a 6% job growth from 2021-2031, and the number of positions is forecast to be 146,400 in 2031. The BLS attributes this slower-than-average job growth to the increase in the use of electronic resources. As people turn more and more to electronic resources, fewer library science professionals will be needed.
</p><p>Positions in nontraditional settings are expected to experience the fastest growth. Corporations, nonprofit institutions, and consulting firms are hiring library science degree holders because of their knowledge of computer databases and their ability to analyze and organize large quantities of information.</p>