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The differences between librarians and research 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 research librarian. Additionally, a librarian has an average salary of $53,096, which is higher than the $51,263 average annual salary of a research librarian.
The top three skills for a librarian include library services, customer service and library materials. The most important skills for a research librarian are research support, library services, and collection development.
| Librarian | Research Librarian | |
| Yearly salary | $53,096 | $51,263 |
| Hourly rate | $25.53 | $24.65 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 1,264 | 45,828 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| 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.
The primary duty of a research librarian is to assist scholars, students, and other researchers in finding books and other study materials. Research librarians handle integrated library systems such as serials control, acquisitions, and cataloging. They create and maintain the library's intranet portal using Microsoft SharePoint. Part of their job is to instruct and assist staff on the proper usage of intranet catalogs and other research databases. They establish a partnership with the other librarians to design and provide information and library literacy instruction to the student body.
Librarians and research librarians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Librarian | Research Librarian | |
| Average salary | $53,096 | $51,263 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $73,000 | Between $35,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Meta | Harvard University |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a librarian and a research librarian in terms of educational background:
| Librarian | Research Librarian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Library Science | Library Science |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between librarians' and research librarians' demographics:
| Librarian | Research Librarian | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| 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, 6.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 4.8% White, 77.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |