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The differences between senior library assistants and library assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior library assistant has an average salary of $34,518, which is higher than the $30,146 average annual salary of a library assistant.
The top three skills for a senior library assistant include library materials, library patrons and library policies. The most important skills for a library assistant are customer service, library materials, and circulation desk.
| Senior Library Assistant | Library Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,518 | $30,146 |
| Hourly rate | $16.60 | $14.49 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,099 | 1,122 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
As a senior library assistant, you have to look after the day-to-day operations of the library. You are in charge of the entire library. So, you have to answer the desk questions of the readers who come to the library. You have to issue the library cards to readers as well. In addition to this, you also need to collect the money given by the readers and maintain the library record. Moreover, you also have to respond to the reader's request for books as well as locate and reserve the books at the right place. To be a senior library assistant, a bachelor's degree is a must.
A library assistant's primary responsibilities revolve around managing reading materials and maintaining order while under a librarian's supervision. They are mostly in charge of locating, organizing, sorting, and even handling newly arrived books and other reading materials according to a specified system. A library assistant may also handle transactions with customers such as checking in and out books, maintaining databases, processing new registrations, and even releasing new library cards. Furthermore, they may have clerical tasks such as producing reports and other necessary documentation, managing schedules, answering calls, and other forms or correspondence.
Senior library assistants and library assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Library Assistant | Library Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,518 | $30,146 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $44,000 | Between $22,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Brookline, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a senior library assistant and a library assistant in terms of educational background:
| Senior Library Assistant | Library Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | English | Business |
| Most common college | New York University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between senior library assistants' and library assistants' demographics:
| Senior Library Assistant | Library Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4% | Male, 29.0% Female, 71.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 6.3% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |