Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
SOC code 25-4022 · O*NET-SOC 25-4022.00 · Extensive preparation needed · Education and library
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$68,270
a year
Hourly
$32.82
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$72,840
$35.02 per hour
Middle 50%
$56,310 – $84,480
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$43,660 – $103,990
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
133,790
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $43,660
- $20.99/hr
- 25th percentile
- $56,310
- $27.07/hr
- Median percentile
- $68,270
- $32.82/hr
- 75th percentile
- $84,480
- $40.62/hr
- 90th percentile
- $103,990
- $50.00/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+2%
Growing about as fast as average
142,100
jobs in 2024
144,500
projected for 2034
About 2,400 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do librarians and media collections specialists do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
- Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
- Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
- Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
- Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
- Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
- Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a librarians and media collections specialists earn?
The national median is $68,270 a year. The full range runs from $43,660 at the 10th percentile to $103,990 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a librarians and media collections specialists without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is librarians and media collections specialists in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 2% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Writing3.6/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.4/5
- Education and Training4.1/5
- Computers and Electronics3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.6/5
- Administrative3.5/5
- Communications and Media3.1/5
- Personnel and Human Resources2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making.