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The differences between library technicians and technician's helpers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a library technician and a technician's helper. Additionally, a library technician has an average salary of $37,757, which is higher than the $36,448 average annual salary of a technician's helper.
The top three skills for a library technician include library services, data entry and circulation desk. The most important skills for a technician's helper are customer service, HVAC, and safety regulations.
| Library Technician | Technician's Helper | |
| Yearly salary | $37,757 | $36,448 |
| Hourly rate | $18.15 | $17.52 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 24,941 | 81,564 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
A technician's helper primarily performs support tasks to assist technicians in carrying out various installations and repairs, learning technical skills along the way. They usually prepare and arrange tools and equipment, set-up and clean work areas, understand blueprints and schematics, troubleshoot issues, assemble materials, and fix and replace components under the technician's supervision. There are also times when they must coordinate with clients to identify their needs and preferences. Moreover, depending on their organization of employment, a technician's helper may also perform minimal clerical tasks such as handling calls, answering inquiries, or purchasing the necessary materials.
Library technicians and technician's helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Library Technician | Technician's Helper | |
| Average salary | $37,757 | $36,448 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $48,000 | Between $22,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Merced, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Syracuse University | PNM Resources |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a library technician and a technician's helper in terms of educational background:
| Library Technician | Technician's Helper | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | New York University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between library technicians' and technician's helpers' demographics:
| Library Technician | Technician's Helper | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 64.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |