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The differences between library media specialists and library technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a library media specialist, becoming a library technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a library media specialist has an average salary of $41,529, which is higher than the $37,757 average annual salary of a library technician.
The top three skills for a library media specialist include professional development, library materials and K-12. The most important skills for a library technician are library services, data entry, and circulation desk.
| Library Media Specialist | Library Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $41,529 | $37,757 |
| Hourly rate | $19.97 | $18.15 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 9,216 | 24,941 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
A Library Media Specialist is in charge of managing and handling a library's media resources and providing visitors and staff assistance. They may work for public libraries, learning institutions, or other facilities with libraries. Their responsibilities usually include helping visitors locate media materials, preparing and processing resources, arranging items according to protocols, and overseeing computer equipment to ensure that they are in good condition. They may also maintain the cleanliness of libraries and implement its policies and regulations.
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 media specialists and library technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Media Specialist | Library Technician | |
| Average salary | $41,529 | $37,757 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $55,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Walnut Creek, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Montgomery County Public Schools | Syracuse University |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a library media specialist and a library technician in terms of educational background:
| Library Media Specialist | Library Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Library Science | Business |
| Most common college | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | New York University |
Here are the differences between library media specialists' and library technicians' demographics:
| Library Media Specialist | Library Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 5.3% White, 75.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 16% | 11% |