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The differences between digital librarians and library technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a digital librarian, becoming a library technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a digital librarian has an average salary of $57,957, which is higher than the $37,757 average annual salary of a library technician.
The top three skills for a digital librarian include metadata, digital collections and digital assets. The most important skills for a library technician are library services, data entry, and circulation desk.
| Digital Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $57,957 | $37,757 |
| Hourly rate | $27.86 | $18.15 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 17,016 | 24,941 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Digital Librarians are professionals who are responsible for organizing and preserving a digital library so that it is accessible by the public through the internet. These librarians must maintain records of their digital collections by cataloging them accurately. They collaborate with other IT professionals to ensure that all information shared over the web is properly licensed, especially those donated or loaned to the library. Digital Librarians must also monitor the collection budgets and expenditures while maintaining relationships with all vendors associated with the digital library.
A library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database. They also assist the visitors with their inquiries and concerns, leading them to the appropriate area of their needs, and remind everyone of the policies and regulations inside the library.
Digital librarians and library technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Digital Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Average salary | $57,957 | $37,757 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $82,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Yale University | Syracuse University |
| Best paying industry | Media | Government |
There are a few differences between a digital librarian and a library technician in terms of educational background:
| Digital Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Library Science And Administration | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between digital librarians' and library technicians' demographics:
| Digital Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.4% Female, 55.6% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 11% |