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The differences between reference assistants and reference librarians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a reference librarian has an average salary of $50,409, which is higher than the $27,874 average annual salary of a reference assistant.
The top three skills for a reference assistant include library materials, library patrons and interlibrary loan. The most important skills for a reference librarian are reference services, library patrons, and collection development.
| Reference Assistant | Reference Librarian | |
| Yearly salary | $27,874 | $50,409 |
| Hourly rate | $13.40 | $24.24 |
| Growth rate | -4% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 658 | 1,058 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Reference assistants and reference librarians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Reference Assistant | Reference Librarian | |
| Average salary | $27,874 | $50,409 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $36,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Yale University |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a reference assistant and a reference librarian in terms of educational background:
| Reference Assistant | Reference Librarian | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | English | Library Science |
| Most common college | New York University | New York University |
Here are the differences between reference assistants' and reference librarians' demographics:
| Reference Assistant | Reference Librarian | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 4.9% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 16% |