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Job outlook for assistant librarians in the United States
Assistant librarian job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected assistant librarian job growth rate is -4% from 2018-2028.
About -6,400 new jobs for assistant librarians are projected over the next decade.
Assistant librarian salaries have increased 14% for assistant librarians in the last 5 years.
There are over 57,066 assistant librarians currently employed in the United States.
There are 1,617 active assistant librarian job openings in the US.
The average assistant librarian salary is $53,764.
Are assistant librarian jobs in demand?
Assistant librarian job and salary trends over time
Assistant librarian jobs over time
Assistant librarian job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57,066 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 60,385 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 60,703 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 56,652 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 57,312 | 0.02% |
Average assistant librarian salary over time
Assistant librarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,764 | $25.85 | +4.5% |
| 2025 | $51,444 | $24.73 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $49,591 | $23.84 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $48,300 | $23.22 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $47,196 | $22.69 | +3.0% |
Assistant librarian jobs by state
Most common states for assistant librarians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 317 | 3% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 20 | 3% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 159 | 2% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 136 | 2% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 115 | 2% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 99 | 2% |
| 7 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 59 | 2% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 58 | 2% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 34 | 2% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 28 | 2% |
| 11 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 26 | 2% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 25 | 2% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 14 | 2% |
| 14 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 13 | 2% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 10 | 2% |
| 16 | California | 39,536,653 | 366 | 1% |
| 17 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 86 | 1% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 41 | 1% |
| 19 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 26 | 1% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 6 | 1% |
Most common cities for assistant librarians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $66,140 |
| 2 | Virginia Beach | 1 | 0% | $53,244 |
Assistant Librarian job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of assistant librarian experts
University of Central Missouri
Texas Woman's University
What general advice would you give to an Assistant Librarian?
Dr. Jenna Kammer Ph.D., MLS, MA: We recommend that our graduate students get a job in a library prior to graduating if possible, or get to know the librarians in the area in which you want to work by volunteering, doing service projects, or internships. That will help with the transition into a library career and build a local network. As graduates begin a career as a librarian, take some time to learn how things work in the library by getting to know your collection, your patrons and the needs of the community. You may have a lot of ideas as you get started, but not enough time to do them all. Write these ideas down, as well as some action steps and resources for accomplishing them. Revisit these ideas as you can.
What Assistant Librarian skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jenna Kammer Ph.D., MLS, MA: Librarians have a core set of values that will stand the test of time, but it is also helpful to have new skills related to social media marketing, change management, digital literacy and the mental habits for learning to adapt with an evolving digital information landscape. Collaboration (within the library and outside of the library) is also an important skill for librarians to have.
What will help Assistant Librarians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jenna Kammer Ph.D., MLS, MA: The MLS degree is the number one best way to maximize your salary potential when starting a new library career. As library jobs can be competitive, build a resume of evidence which shows your skills and passion for library work, as well as curating a list of excellent references who can help you to land that job.
Kerol Harrod
Lecturer, School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman’s UniversityTexas Woman's University
Computer And Information Sciences
What will help Assistant Librarians increase their earning potential?
Kerol Harrod: Master the skills of the entry-level job you are given in the beginning to get the job you want in the end. Offer to assist with projects that will help you learn the skills you need for success, and always be on the lookout for continuing education opportunities like in-house trainings, conferences, and webinars. If you show an interest in going above and beyond, then you will improve your knowledge and skills, which in turn improves your chances for advancement in the field.