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School librarian vs teacher

The differences between school librarians and teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a school librarian has an average salary of $51,202, which is higher than the $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.

The top three skills for a school librarian include library services, library resources and library materials. The most important skills for a teacher are ESL, handle scheduling, and kids.

School librarian vs teacher overview

School LibrarianTeacher
Yearly salary$51,202$47,989
Hourly rate$24.62$23.07
Growth rate6%4%
Number of jobs20,03771,918
Job satisfaction-4.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4842
Years of experience2-

School librarian vs teacher salary

School librarians and teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

School LibrarianTeacher
Average salary$51,202$47,989
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $75,000Between $32,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CABaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateAlaskaMaryland
Best paying companyPoly Prep Country Day SchoolKing Low Heywood Thomas
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between school librarian and teacher education

There are a few differences between a school librarian and a teacher in terms of educational background:

School LibrarianTeacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorLibrary ScienceElementary Education
Most common collegeUniversity of Maryland - College ParkUniversity of Pennsylvania

School librarian vs teacher demographics

Here are the differences between school librarians' and teachers' demographics:

School LibrarianTeacher
Average age4842
Gender ratioMale, 16.3% Female, 83.7%Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 4.8% White, 77.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%9%

Differences between school librarian and teacher duties and responsibilities

School librarian example responsibilities.

  • Manage and supervise a full-time media assistant, technology technicians and parent and student volunteers.
  • Volunteer to host events at annual school carnival and other PTA and school events.
  • Guide them in researching through a non fiction books, encyclopedia entry, and the elibrary BigChalk database.
  • Institute the use of computers in the library for cataloging, online searching, reference, bibliographies, and administrative functions.
  • Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
  • Manage and supervise a full-time media assistant, technology technicians and parent and student volunteers.
  • Show more

Teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop social studies and geography curriculum.
  • Provide kindergarten readiness in approaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and introductory math skills.
  • Attend and participate in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
  • Show more

School librarian vs teacher skills

Common school librarian skills
  • Library Services, 11%
  • Library Resources, 9%
  • Library Materials, 9%
  • Library Programs, 7%
  • Collection Development, 6%
  • Library Collection, 5%
Common teacher skills
  • ESL, 17%
  • Handle Scheduling, 15%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%

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