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The differences between librarians and archivists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a librarian, becoming an archivist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a librarian has an average salary of $53,096, which is higher than the $47,145 average annual salary of an archivist.
The top three skills for a librarian include library services, customer service and library materials. The most important skills for an archivist are archival collections, online database, and archival materials.
| Librarian | Archivist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,096 | $47,145 |
| Hourly rate | $25.53 | $22.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 1,264 | 449 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Librarians are trained in the field of information science so they can assist people in search of information. They direct and develop information systems and programs for the public. It is their job to make sure that the data is well-organized to meet every library user's needs. Their library work focuses on three main aspects, including user services, administrative services, and technical services. Typically, librarians work in schools, government, or local libraries.
An archivist is an information professional who assesses the value of information and then stores them in such a way that people can access the information and make sense of it. Archivists are required to have a great understanding of the historical context of the records, such as the relationship of a record to other records and why it was created in the first place. They must work closely with record managers and his/her torians to store and preserve perishable documents. Archivists must also organize public events such as talks and exhibitions.
Librarians and archivists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Librarian | Archivist | |
| Average salary | $53,096 | $47,145 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $73,000 | Between $23,000 And $94,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a librarian and an archivist in terms of educational background:
| Librarian | Archivist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Library Science | History |
| Most common college | New York University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between librarians' and archivists' demographics:
| Librarian | Archivist | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 77.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 13% |