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Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeLower pressure

What they do

Teach courses in library science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

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

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 $80,340 Median per year Most earn $57,200–$129,120

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and present findings in professional journals, books, electronic media, or at professional conferences.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 300 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

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools87.5%
  • Junior colleges12.0%

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

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree and several years of work experience, often as a librarian, before they teach library science at the college level. Expect a path of roughly 10 to 15 years of school and work after high school.

  1. Bachelor's degree

    4 years

    Study any field you enjoy, such as English, history, or education, and build strong research and writing skills. This prepares you for graduate study in library and information science.

  2. Librarian (after a Master's in Library Science)

    2-4 years

    Earn a master's degree in library science, then work as a librarian to learn how libraries run and how people use information. This hands-on experience is what most teaching programs look for.

  3. Doctoral degree in library and information science

    3-5 years

    Earn a PhD or similar doctorate, which usually includes original research and a dissertation. This degree is typically required to teach at the college level.

  4. Library Science Teacher, Postsecondary

    Ongoing career

    Teach library science courses at a college or university, and in some jobs also do research. Your teaching and research experience will shape your next steps.

Where it can lead

  1. Department Chair

    5+ years as a faculty member of experience first

    A department chair leads a group of teachers, plans courses, and handles budgets and hiring. It takes strong teaching records and the trust of colleagues.

  2. Dean of Library and Information Science

    10+ years in academia of experience first

    A dean oversees an entire school or college, including faculty, programs, and fundraising. It usually requires a strong research record and years of leadership experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and writing-heavy classesStrong reading and writing skills are the base for every step of this path, from college essays to graduate research.
  • Get a job or volunteer at your school or public libraryShelving books, helping at the front desk, or running a reading program shows you what library work is really like.
  • Join a debate, writing, or research clubThese groups build the research, speaking, and explaining skills that teaching at any level requires.
  • Take a computer or information technology classLibraries increasingly rely on databases, digital archives, and online tools, so basic tech skills are useful.
  • Tutor or help younger studentsExplaining ideas to others is a core part of teaching and shows whether you enjoy it.

In college

  • Major in English, history, or information studiesThese majors build research and writing skills and fit well with graduate study in library and information science.
  • Work a campus library jobWorking at a library desk or in special collections gives you real experience and connections with librarians.
  • Work as a research assistant for a professorHelping with research shows you how academic work is done and gives you material for graduate applications.
  • Seek an internship at a library or archiveA library, museum, or archive internship builds practical skills and can lead to references for graduate school.
  • Present at a student conference or publish in a campus journalEarly presentations and publications show you can do research and communicate it, which doctoral programs look for.

Tips for getting started

  • Volunteer or work part-time in a library early on. Real experience helps you understand what libraries need and makes your applications stronger.
  • Get comfortable with research and writing from the start. Doctoral programs and teaching jobs both depend heavily on these skills.
  • Talk with librarians and library science professors about their work. Their advice on programs and career choices can save you time.

Related jobs that often lead here

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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