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The differences between library aides and library assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library assistant has an average salary of $30,146, which is higher than the $28,197 average annual salary of a library aide.
The top three skills for a library aide include library materials, customer service and circulation desk. The most important skills for a library assistant are customer service, library materials, and circulation desk.
| Library Aide | Library Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $28,197 | $30,146 |
| Hourly rate | $13.56 | $14.49 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 40,987 | 1,122 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A library aide is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of libraries. Typical duties include assisting customers in finding books, shelving books according to categories, and updating and maintaining customer profiles. In addition, you will assist customers in accessing the internet, keeping a record of books that have been borrowed and returned, and coordinating the repair of books that have been damaged. You will also be responsible for handling inquiries from customers via telephone or email and assisting with reading sessions and library events.
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.
Library aides and library assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Aide | Library Assistant | |
| Average salary | $28,197 | $30,146 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $36,000 | Between $22,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Daly City, CA | Brookline, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Dublin City Schools | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a library aide and a library assistant in terms of educational background:
| Library Aide | Library Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between library aides' and library assistants' demographics:
| Library Aide | Library Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.6% Female, 73.4% | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 11% | 11% |