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Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Typical education: Master's degreeLower pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $68,270 Median per year · $32.82/hr Most earn $43,660–$103,990

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • 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.
  • Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
  • Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
  • Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
  • Plan and deliver client-centered programs and services, such as special services for corporate clients, storytelling for children, newsletters, or programs for special groups.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 12,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Elementary and secondary schools34.8%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals32.2%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools17.4%
  • Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services5.1%
  • Junior colleges3.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Librarian is not usually an entry-level job. Most people need a master's degree in library science and about 1 to 2 years of library work experience first. Plan on roughly 6 to 8 years from starting college to your first librarian job.

  1. Bachelor's degree in any field

    4 years

    Choose a major you enjoy, such as English, history, or education, and build strong research and writing skills. Library graduate programs accept many undergraduate majors.

  2. Library Assistant, Clerical

    1-2 years

    Start by checking out materials, shelving books, and helping patrons find information. This hands-on experience shows you how libraries run and prepares you for graduate study.

  3. Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS or MLS)

    1-2 years

    Graduate study covers cataloging, reference services, and information technology. Many students keep working in libraries while they study.

  4. Librarian

    Ongoing

    As a librarian, you manage collections, teach people how to find and evaluate information, and run library programs and media equipment.

Where it can lead

  1. Library Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You supervise staff, manage budgets, and plan services for a branch or department. Strong leadership and communication skills matter more here than cataloging skills alone.

  2. Instructional Coordinator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You help schools design lessons, choose materials, and train teachers, often drawing on a librarian's knowledge of information literacy. This role usually needs a master's degree and some teaching or curriculum experience.

  3. Library Science Teacher, Postsecondary

    4-6 years of experience first

    You teach library and information science courses at a college or university and may do research. This role typically requires a doctoral or professional degree.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and research-focused classesStrong reading, writing, and research skills are the core of everyday library work.
  • Volunteer at your public or school libraryYou will see how libraries organize books, help patrons, and run events, and you can ask staff about their jobs.
  • Join a book club, debate team, or reading clubThese groups build communication skills and show you how people discover and share information.
  • Get a part-time job in a bookstore or help at a community centerCustomer service experience helps you learn to assist people with questions, which is central to librarianship.
  • Learn basic computer and media skillsPractice with word processing, spreadsheets, and simple audio or video tools, since libraries use all of them.

In college

  • Major in English, history, communications, or educationThese majors build research, writing, and teaching skills that are useful in library graduate programs.
  • Apply for a library assistant job on campusWorking at your college library gives you direct experience with cataloging, circulation, and helping patrons, and it counts as the work experience this career usually requires.
  • Take a course in information literacy or database searchingIf your school offers these courses or workshops, they teach how to find, evaluate, and organize information, which is the heart of librarianship.
  • Join a student organization or volunteer with a literacy programLeading groups or tutoring builds the teaching and program-planning skills librarians use every day.
  • Talk with a campus librarian about graduate programsThey can explain which master's programs are common, what experience admissions committees look for, and how to balance work and study.

Tips for getting started

  • Volunteer or work part-time at a library early on. Hiring managers for librarian jobs value real experience with patrons and collections.
  • Ask librarians if you can interview them about their work. This helps you learn whether the job fits your interests before you commit to graduate school.
  • Build comfort with technology, such as spreadsheets, databases, and basic video or audio equipment, since modern libraries rely on all of them.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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