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The differences between instruction librarians and library assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an instruction librarian has an average salary of $50,234, which is higher than the $30,146 average annual salary of a library assistant.
The top three skills for an instruction librarian include collection development, library services and reference services. The most important skills for a library assistant are customer service, library materials, and circulation desk.
| Instruction Librarian | Library Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,234 | $30,146 |
| Hourly rate | $24.15 | $14.49 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,276 | 1,122 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
The primary role of an instruction librarian is to create educational experiences. Instruction librarians design instructional materials and develop learning objects, assessment tools, and learning outcomes in different learning environments. These librarians serve as liaisons as they meet with students and faculty for research and teaching purposes. They promote and offer training for information literacy opportunities such as database access, computer literacy, and research. It is also their responsibility to maintain awareness of library and information technologies.
A library assistant's primary responsibilities revolve around managing reading materials and maintaining order while under a librarian's supervision. They are mostly in charge of locating, organizing, sorting, and even handling newly arrived books and other reading materials according to a specified system. A library assistant may also handle transactions with customers such as checking in and out books, maintaining databases, processing new registrations, and even releasing new library cards. Furthermore, they may have clerical tasks such as producing reports and other necessary documentation, managing schedules, answering calls, and other forms or correspondence.
Instruction librarians and library assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instruction Librarian | Library Assistant | |
| Average salary | $50,234 | $30,146 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $71,000 | Between $22,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tacoma, WA | Brookline, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Kern Community College District | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between an instruction librarian and a library assistant in terms of educational background:
| Instruction Librarian | Library Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Library Science | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between instruction librarians' and library assistants' demographics:
| Instruction Librarian | Library Assistant | |
| Average age | 48 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.9% Female, 65.1% | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 4.8% White, 77.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 11% |