Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between library assistants and library clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library clerk has an average salary of $30,275, which is higher than the $30,146 average annual salary of a library assistant.
The top three skills for a library assistant include customer service, library materials and circulation desk. The most important skills for a library clerk are library materials, customer service, and circulation desk.
| Library Assistant | Library Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $30,146 | $30,275 |
| Hourly rate | $14.49 | $14.56 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,122 | 67,131 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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 clerks help librarians by primarily doing sorting, shelving, updating database and files, and cataloging several library materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, and multimedia resources. They check books and other resources in and out of the library assist in the procurement of library supplies, work with audio-visual equipment most of the time. In addition, other job responsibilities include setting up book displays, repairing damaged books, sending out overdue notices, and helping visitors find what they look for.
Library assistants and library clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Assistant | Library Clerk | |
| Average salary | $30,146 | $30,275 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $39,000 | Between $23,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookline, MA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Mayor Ethan Berkowitz |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a library assistant and a library clerk in terms of educational background:
| Library Assistant | Library Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between library assistants' and library clerks' demographics:
| Library Assistant | Library Clerk | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |