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Job outlook for special library librarians in the United States
Are special library librarian jobs in demand?
Special library librarian job and salary trends over time
Special library librarian jobs over time
Special library librarian job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 853 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 901 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 905 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 839 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 846 | 0.00% |
Average special library librarian salary over time
Special library librarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,343 | $25.16 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $50,460 | $24.26 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | $49,420 | $23.76 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $48,977 | $23.55 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $48,274 | $23.21 | +1.4% |
Special library librarian jobs by state
Most common states for special library librarians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 476 | 11% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 186 | 10% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 71 | 10% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 48 | 8% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 47 | 8% |
| 6 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 437 | 7% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 95 | 7% |
| 8 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 680 | 6% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 683 | 5% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 594 | 5% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 360 | 5% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 224 | 5% |
| 13 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 189 | 5% |
| 14 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 187 | 5% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 142 | 5% |
| 16 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 139 | 5% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 104 | 5% |
| 18 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 57 | 5% |
| 19 | Alaska | 739,795 | 35 | 5% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 35 | 5% |
Most common cities for special library librarians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $55,183 |
| 2 | Philadelphia | 1 | 0% | $63,135 |
| 3 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $58,930 |
Special Library Librarian job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of special library librarian experts
University of Central Missouri
Texas Woman's University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
What general advice would you give to a Special Library Librarian?
Dr. Jenna Kammer Ph.D., MLS, MA: We recommend that our graduate students get a job in a library prior to graduating if possible, or get to know the librarians in the area in which you want to work by volunteering, doing service projects, or internships. That will help with the transition into a library career and build a local network. As graduates begin a career as a librarian, take some time to learn how things work in the library by getting to know your collection, your patrons and the needs of the community. You may have a lot of ideas as you get started, but not enough time to do them all. Write these ideas down, as well as some action steps and resources for accomplishing them. Revisit these ideas as you can.
What Special Library Librarian skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jenna Kammer Ph.D., MLS, MA: Librarians have a core set of values that will stand the test of time, but it is also helpful to have new skills related to social media marketing, change management, digital literacy and the mental habits for learning to adapt with an evolving digital information landscape. Collaboration (within the library and outside of the library) is also an important skill for librarians to have.
What will help Special Library Librarians increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jenna Kammer Ph.D., MLS, MA: The MLS degree is the number one best way to maximize your salary potential when starting a new library career. As library jobs can be competitive, build a resume of evidence which shows your skills and passion for library work, as well as curating a list of excellent references who can help you to land that job.
Kerol Harrod
Lecturer, School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman’s UniversityTexas Woman's University
Computer And Information Sciences
What will help Special Library Librarians increase their earning potential?
Kerol Harrod: Master the skills of the entry-level job you are given in the beginning to get the job you want in the end. Offer to assist with projects that will help you learn the skills you need for success, and always be on the lookout for continuing education opportunities like in-house trainings, conferences, and webinars. If you show an interest in going above and beyond, then you will improve your knowledge and skills, which in turn improves your chances for advancement in the field.
What Special Library Librarian skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kerol Harrod: Knowing how to navigate AI and the types of issues that arise therefrom (copyright, plagiarism, AI hallucinations, etc.) will become more important as the technology progresses. Generally keeping abreast of new technologies and ways to access information is also key to providing good service to library patrons. Understanding the basics of community librarianship, evidence-based practice, marketing, and community outreach will be crucial to libraries and librarians looking to maintain relevance in an increasingly connected world.
What general advice would you give to a Special Library Librarian?
Kerol Harrod: Much of what I would advise involves just sticking to the basics. Show up to work on time. Have a good attitude and a growth mindset. Don't complain about menial tasks, and always be looking to learn the skills of the next position above you. I started out as the transit driver in my library system, loading and unloading boxes of books that circulated among the different library branches. I worked my way up, and now I am teaching graduate students how to become librarians. Put in the time and do the work. Networking is a huge part of success, so it's important to maintain good connections with co-workers, former professors, and fellow librarians. Finally, consider establishing a mentorship with a successful, trusted colleague who has experience in the position you want to attain. Personal connections go a long way.
Stephen Ahearne-Kroll Ph.D.
Chair, Associate Professor and Sundet Family Chair of New Testament and Christian StudiesUniversity of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Department of Classical and Near Eastern Religions and Cultures
What skills stand out on Special Library Librarian resumes?
Stephen Ahearne-Kroll Ph.D.: The skills I think are most important (in no particular order) are (1) creative imagination; (2) good knowledge of the social and political history of the biblical works one is studying; (3) a strong sense of how theological perspectives can affect one's reading of the Bible; (4) a strong sense of how the field is being pushed towards a more inclusive demographic; (5) a deep understanding of how gender, race, social status, and ethnicity have to be included in any analysis of biblical texts; (6) a desire to break out of old patterns of scholarship and teaching that have certain scholars an unfair advantage over others; (7) an interesting research plan; (8) strong language skills; (9) good teaching ability/potential.
What skills will help Special Library Librarians earn the most?
Stephen Ahearne-Kroll Ph.D.: The highest paying institutions are Research 1 colleges and universities, but they often don't compare the kinds of skill sets they require. Mainline divinity schools and seminaries associated with R1 universities (Yale, Harvard, Duke, Emory, Brite [TCU], U Chicago) don't always compare with each other very well; some are denominationally affiliated (Duke, Emory, TCU), and others are not (Yale, Harvard, Chicago), and so each would have their own priorities in terms of the kind of scholar they would want to hire. For example, a denominationally affiliated divinity school might require an MDiv or ministerial experience, whereas a non-denominational divinity school might not. And yet, the pay would be comparable. Every school wants good language skills, a strong sense of history, imaginative scholars, interesting research agendas, good teaching skills/potential, but these skills do not automatically translate into high-paying jobs or even jobs at all.
What technical skills for a Special Library Librarian stand out to employers?
Andrew Wertheimer Ph.D.: Libraries and archives look for a variety of skills. It would be hard to specify which ones since different workplaces need different skills. The reason they hire our graduates is that they have this wide range of skills as well as soft-skills to provide service to users and communities in an ethical and legal way. If I had to name a few areas though I would say health informatics, digital archives, digital libraries, online instruction, as well as data science. Again, different employers have different technical needs. Our employers keep telling us that they also need the strong foundations plus soft skills.