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Job outlook for library media specialists in the United States
Library media specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected library media specialist job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 8,500 new jobs for library media specialists are projected over the next decade.
Library media specialist salaries have increased 11% for library media specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,067 library media specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 9,216 active library media specialist job openings in the US.
The average library media specialist salary is $41,529.
Are library media specialist jobs in demand?
Library media specialist job and salary trends over time
Library media specialist jobs over time
Library media specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,067 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,413 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 6,442 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,810 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 9,632 | 0.00% |
Average library media specialist salary over time
Library media specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,529 | $19.97 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $40,108 | $19.28 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $38,780 | $18.64 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $37,991 | $18.26 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $37,404 | $17.98 | +4.2% |
Library media specialist jobs by state
Most common states for library media specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 139 | 20% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 84 | 13% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 76 | 13% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 118 | 12% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 81 | 11% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 186 | 10% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 83 | 10% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 76 | 10% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 292 | 9% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 123 | 9% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 99 | 9% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 98 | 9% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 574 | 8% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 255 | 8% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 136 | 8% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 438 | 7% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 278 | 7% |
| 18 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 191 | 7% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 90 | 7% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 725 | 6% |
Most common cities for library media specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $44,584 |
| 2 | Rochester | 1 | 0% | $43,057 |
Library Media Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of library media specialist experts
Duquesne University
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
California Baptist University
Cedar Crest College
West Virginia State University
Iowa State University
University of Kansas
Rowan University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Newark
Binghamton University, SUNY
Claremont Graduate University
The Ohio State University at Lima
North Carolina Central University
American Public University System
Forsyth County, Georgia
What skills stand out on Library Media Specialist resumes?
Dr. Mike Dillon: Evidence (courses, internships, other experience) that demonstrates competence in communicating with a wide array of audiences across multiple platforms. Our journalism program, for instance, is multiplatform: students learn to write, edit, shoot video, create podcasts, adapt stories to fit the requirements of multiple platforms, etc. Basically, we want to send students out of here like Swiss Army Knives -- able to work in their area of proficiency, be that writing or videography, but also adept with a wide variety of other competencies.
What's a good job out of college for Library Media Specialists?
Andrew Wertheimer Ph.D.: To become a librarian or archivist one needs a Master's of Library and Information Science (MLS) so it is a big investment after getting a BA/BS. Each person is going to have their own definition of what is a good job. I advise my students to think about what is important to them. Some will go for the highest paying job, and others will be more excited about the potential for promotion, but I would have to say that our graduates also want to see a learning environment in an organization that really serves their community. I would say that most libraries and archives are great places to work since they are all about helping communities with collections and services.
What experience really stands out on Library Media Specialist resumes?
MaryAnn Pearson: Resumes that include work with student publications (newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks) and links to published articles stand out. Students who have participated in internships also stand out as they show experience.
What experience really stands out on Library Media Specialist resumes?
Dr. Jill Purdy: "This is partially answered previously. I think students found time to be more self-reliant and independent. Hopefully, not to a fault as they move into their careers.
On resumes, we may see more of the soft skills described. It may sound counterintuitive, but I think a different kind of interpersonal skill was developed. On a Zoom call, what do we have but people and we have to figure out how to get our message across, collaborate, debate, and communicate effectively without extraneous factors. "
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D
ProfessorWest Virginia State University
Department of Communications & Media Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Library Media Specialists?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: Graduates are also citizens of the world. This is a global pandemic, and we are all in it. Given the political economy of the coronavirus, many organizations are going through tough times. There will be fewer job opportunities for all graduates. The field of communication, on the other hand, maybe an exception. We learned it the hard way. We had to stay home, work, teach, and learn remotely. We filled our long days with entertainment, games, etc. We shared moments with family and loved ones virtually. The opportunities for internet-based media are endless. The essential item I retain from this experience is that media and communication technologies are central and our graduates.
What type of skills will young Library Media Specialists need?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: Media and technology literacy is of utmost importance. In communication and media studies at West Virginia State University, we do everything we can to provide our graduates with media literacy skills: video, audio, film, public relations, graphic design, etc. In general, graduates have to be excellent in computer and internet-based communication in terms of production and media content distribution. Specific skills include, but are not limited to, graphic design, editing, writing, research, and data analysis.
What experience really stands out on Library Media Specialist resumes?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: The nature of practical experiences and where they took place always stand out in any resume. I would pay close attention to the academic aspect and align with those practical experiences to see the level of the candidate's planning, performance, and dedication to his/her dream job.
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, ISU English Undergraduate Studies; Director, ISU Studio for New MediaIowa State University
Department of English
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Library Media Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.: Today, my students are quite experienced with precarity, a word that's become popular this year (which refers to environments dominated by precarious conditions). This means that many are well-suited to changing circumstances and varying methods of working on teams. Though the high unemployment rate in the US-led to reduced job listings last summer, employers have told me that they've been very impressed with the students they do hire. Many established workers have little experience with different ways to manage distance collaboration. Still, full-time students graduating this December will have had at least 10-12 courses, and those graduating next May will have had at least 15-18 courses taught online (or mostly online). This means new graduates will have had more diverse experiences with collaboration in remote teams under different professors/supervisors, which will allow them to see an extensive range of leadership styles and techniques to manage people working together at a distance. Distance collaboration is here to stay, and today's students will have superior skills and diverse experience working in such environments.
What experience really stands out on Library Media Specialist resumes?
Cari Ann Kreienhop: This is a tricky question because organizations can be focused on very different things in a given hiring search. I think what should be important to applicants in crafting their application materials is that they highlight their experience and achievements and highlight these attributes within the context of the organization's mission and strategic plan. The resume is the blueprint of how an applicant can fit into and contribute to an organization's growth; if the applicant doesn't take the time to match their resume experience to the job posting, hiring managers aren't going to take the extra time to read between the lines.
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorRowan University
Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural education
What general advice would you give to a Library Media Specialist?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Overall, my advice to a graduate starting their career in education would be to reflect deeply on their stance - their core beliefs and philosophy about teaching more generally. Educational policies change all the time, what we call "best practices" change. But developing a strong stance, rooted in care and regard for students, their families, and the community, will help graduates navigate these changes while staying true to what matters.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Library Media Specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.: Educators are not paid nearly enough. However, working in a state with strong teachers' unions helps to ensure a starting salary that recent graduates can live off of and growth opportunities, albeit modest, over their careers.
What type of skills will young Library Media Specialists need?
Margery Amdur: Students need to be far more self-sufficient, curious, and persistent. They need to surround themselves with others who are driven. They also need to be grateful if they get a job offer. It will put them on a path. "On a path" is better than not being on a track.
Resilience and the willingness to be vulnerable continue to be critical mantras!
I know this doesn't have anything to do with technology, but attaining skills that reside outside of the academy will serve all of us!
Matthew McConn
Associate Professor of English Education, Department ChairBinghamton University, SUNY
Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership
What general advice would you give to a Library Media Specialist?
Matthew McConn: It's best to be fully certified before you sit for an interview. That means completing the EdTPA and all certification exams. Students tend to put off the EdTPA portfolio, and it hurts their chances when interviewed, since administrators would have to risk the applicant not passing their exam. However, during the pandemic, there have been some alternative options for candidates, so I would strongly recommend they familiarize themselves with those alternatives.
Eve Oishi Ph.D.
Associate Professor and ChairClaremont Graduate University
Cultural Studies Department
What general advice would you give to a Library Media Specialist?
Eve Oishi Ph.D.: Students who receive a degree in ethnic or gender studies are sure to have received substantial training in how to identify and analyze structural inequality, cultural and political power dynamics, and historical trends. These are all tools that are highly useful and transferrable to innumerable fields. Many students face pressure from their families to avoid areas like these because they won't give them "practical" career training.
At the start of their careers, my advice to graduates would be to remember that the skills they have in critical thinking, writing, and understanding the most pressing issues of the current time, are skills that will make them attractive to employers in many fields. Be creative and bold in highlighting all of your diverse talents. Even if your skillset is not legible to your family or community, you can showcase it in your job search.
What type of skills will young Library Media Specialists need?
Leah Herner-Patnode: Graduates in the field of education need to understand platforms such as Google Classroom. Even when things get better with Covid, many schools will still use this as a supplement. They also have to be aware of how to find appropriate sources. The days of just accepting the history textbooks are gone. Using primary sources is very important, and a skill teachers need to teach to students.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Library Media Specialists to find work opportunities?
Leah Herner-Patnode: Usually, urban areas of bigger cities and southern states, such as North Carolina, have many openings. Maine, Florida, California, Hawaii, Washington, and Texas are the most open positions.
Elisha Blankson
Program Director NCCU, Assistant ProfessorNorth Carolina Central University
Communication Disorders Department
What type of skills will young Library Media Specialists need?
Elisha Blankson: Graduates will need a skill set about the field in which they received training and additional skills useful to the job market. For example, with the changing demographics in the United States, extra skills in information technology and foreign languages will be a plus when entering the job market.
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorAmerican Public University System
Public Administration Department
What type of skills will young Library Media Specialists need?
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.: The ability to examine all sides of an issue, to include long-term consequences and short-term consequences and unintended consequences and intended outcomes is vital. A focus on goals and objectives, instead of depending on an emotional response, will help lead to the best solutions. Public servants should be adaptable and able to work with people from various cultures. They need to have an understanding of how to work with and motivate individuals and groups. Those who can stay engaged and exercise good judgment will fare best in fluid and changing times.
How do you envision technology impacting Library Media Specialists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Elizabeth Keavney Ph.D.: COVID-19 has increased the number of people who are working at home. This means a solid basic knowledge of telecommuting, and the ability to work unsupervised will be necessary. The ability to use remote security protocols, the cloud, and various software platforms will be required.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Library Media Specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola: This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Library Media Specialists?
Donna Kukarola: The procurement field is an opportunity; each day will have its own set of challenges and opportunities. Obtaining the right item/service at the right time, at the right price, is not all that procurement does. They are strategic members, sourcing, timing, keeping up with trends, laws, best practices, and advising that the resource desired is already available!
This year, entering the workforce will be different for many interviews to be held electronically - even, perhaps, teleworking when they get the job. Training is a bit more of a challenge then, and it can be hard to get a real feel of the "attitude." Keeping an open mind and being flexible is a must; during this pandemic, we have all had to learn how to do our jobs differently and navigate our careers.