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The differences between librarians and reference librarians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a librarian and a reference librarian. Additionally, a librarian has an average salary of $53,096, which is higher than the $50,409 average annual salary of a reference librarian.
The top three skills for a librarian include library services, customer service and library materials. The most important skills for a reference librarian are reference services, library patrons, and collection development.
| Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Yearly salary | $53,096 | $50,409 |
| Hourly rate | $25.53 | $24.24 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 1,264 | 1,058 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Being a reference librarian requires good people skills, knowledge in their respective fields, and good teaching ability to handle the varied responsibilities. Job duties include the interpretation, recommendation, evaluation, and use of information resources in order to assist library patrons with their respective information requirements. These are tasks that will just as often be conducted through phone chat and email as in person.
Librarians and reference librarians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Average salary | $53,096 | $50,409 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $73,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Yale University |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a librarian and a reference librarian in terms of educational background:
| Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Library Science | Library Science |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between librarians' and reference librarians' demographics:
| Librarian | Reference Librarian | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| 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, 6.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 4.9% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |