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The differences between library assistants and library technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a library technician has an average salary of $37,757, 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 technician are library services, data entry, and circulation desk.
| Library Assistant | Library Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $30,146 | $37,757 |
| Hourly rate | $14.49 | $18.15 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,122 | 24,941 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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.
A library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database. They also assist the visitors with their inquiries and concerns, leading them to the appropriate area of their needs, and remind everyone of the policies and regulations inside the library.
Library assistants and library technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Assistant | Library Technician | |
| Average salary | $30,146 | $37,757 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $39,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brookline, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Syracuse University |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a library assistant and a library technician in terms of educational background:
| Library Assistant | Library Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | New York University |
Here are the differences between library assistants' and library technicians' demographics:
| Library Assistant | Library Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| 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, 9.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |