Library Assistants, Clerical: salary, outlook & degrees
Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title. Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials.
Middle half $31,820–$45,620. 85,520 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
59% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $26,396.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 12,300 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Some preparation.
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| English Language And Literature | 18% | English |
| History | 8% | History |
| Psychology | 7% | Psychology |
| Communications | 4% | Communications · Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other |
| Library Science | 3% | — |
| Composition And Rhetoric | 3% | Writing |
| Business Management And Administration | 2% | Business Administration |
| Political Science And Government | 2% | Political Science |
| Physical Fitness Parks Recreation And Leisure | 2% | Kinesiology / Exercise Science · Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies |
| Hospitality Management | 2% | Hospitality Management |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Education workers say the job requires
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers (“required level of education”); small samples, so treat shares as approximate.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,390 |
| California | $47,860 |
| Washington | $47,540 |
| Nevada | $46,620 |
| Maryland | $45,910 |
| Alaska | $44,800 |
| Massachusetts | $42,520 |
| Oregon | $42,270 |
| Minnesota | $39,970 |
| New Jersey | $39,780 |
| Wisconsin | $39,610 |
| Connecticut | $39,100 |
| Montana | $39,070 |
| Arizona | $38,110 |
| Wyoming | $38,040 |
| Virginia | $38,020 |
| Maine | $37,890 |
| Florida | $37,880 |
| Tennessee | $37,410 |
| New Hampshire | $37,400 |
| Hawaii | $37,110 |
| Delaware | $37,090 |
| Rhode Island | $36,610 |
| Vermont | $36,430 |
| Georgia | $36,410 |
| Colorado | $36,130 |
| New York | $35,990 |
| New Mexico | $35,250 |
| Illinois | $34,680 |
| North Carolina | $34,550 |
| North Dakota | $34,530 |
| Michigan | $34,510 |
| South Carolina | $33,980 |
| Idaho | $33,960 |
| Missouri | $33,760 |
| Kentucky | $33,690 |
| Ohio | $33,480 |
| Utah | $32,690 |
| Kansas | $31,550 |
| Texas | $31,200 |
| Arkansas | $31,100 |
| West Virginia | $30,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,690 |
| Oklahoma | $29,640 |
| Louisiana | $29,620 |
| Iowa | $29,480 |
| Indiana | $28,900 |
| Mississippi | $28,110 |
| Nebraska | $28,080 |
| Alabama | $27,530 |
| PR | $23,110 |
Florida metro areas
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$38,830
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$37,790
- Jacksonville$37,570
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford$38,390
- Tallahassee$36,940
- Gainesville$39,930
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville$35,860
- North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota$39,180
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$46,820
- Richmond$38,230
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$40,710
- Charlottesville$36,080
- Roanoke$35,630
- Kingsport-Bristol$32,320
- Winchester$29,830
- Lynchburg$32,090
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$47,770
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$63,000
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$47,850
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$62,780
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$50,940
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$46,980
- Fresno$46,250
- Stockton-Lodi$39,290
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge used
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Psychology
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Integrity
People in this job tend to have Conventional (organizing), Social (helping) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Library Assistants, Clerical: questions
How much do library Assistants, Clerical make?
Library Assistants, Clerical earn a U.S. median $36,910 a year; the middle half earn $31,820 to $45,620 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $25,695 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is library Assistants, Clerical a growing field?
BLS projects a decline of 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 12,300 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a library Assistants, Clerical?
BLS lists the typical entry education as high school diploma or equivalent. In O*NET's survey, 5% of workers say a bachelor's or higher is required. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is english Language And Literature (18%).
How much do library Assistants, Clerical make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $37,880 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $36,910 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 43-4121. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Library Assistants, Clerical: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/library-assistants-clerical.