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Career overview · SOC 25-4022

Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.

Also called: Catalog Librarian · Instructional Technology Specialist · Librarian · Library Media Specialist · Media Specialist · Media Technician

Median pay (national)
$64,320
$38,920–$100,880 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
131,830
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.7%
~13,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Master's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for librarians and media collections specialists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $100,880 versus $38,920 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $64,320 leaves roughly 57% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.7% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 13,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $94,400, +47% vs the national median), while Idaho sits lowest at $46,570 — a 103% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Springshare LibGuides as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Check books in and out of the library.
  • Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
  • Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
  • Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
  • Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
  • Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
  • Respond to customer complaints, taking action as necessary.
  • Plan and deliver client-centered programs and services, such as special services for corporate clients, storytelling for children, newsletters, or programs for special groups.
  • Locate unusual or unique information in response to specific requests.
  • Evaluate materials to determine outdated or unused items to be discarded.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Springshare LibGuides
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Cascading style sheets CSS
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Facebook
  • Google Workspace software
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft Visio

Knowledge areas

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Education and Training
  • Administrative
  • Communications and Media
  • Administration and Management
  • Psychology