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Job outlook for technical services librarians in the United States
Technical services librarian job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected technical services librarian job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 8,500 new jobs for technical services librarians are projected over the next decade.
Technical services librarian salaries have increased 8% for technical services librarians in the last 5 years.
There are over 68,148 technical services librarians currently employed in the United States.
There are 118,696 active technical services librarian job openings in the US.
The average technical services librarian salary is $50,657.
Are technical services librarian jobs in demand?
Technical services librarian job and salary trends over time
Technical services librarian jobs over time
Technical services librarian job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68,148 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 72,030 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 72,360 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 67,060 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 67,620 | 0.02% |
Average technical services librarian salary over time
Technical services librarian salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,657 | $24.35 | +3.7% |
| 2025 | $48,834 | $23.48 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $47,828 | $22.99 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $47,399 | $22.79 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | $46,718 | $22.46 | +1.4% |
Technical services librarian jobs by state
Most common states for technical services librarians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,754 | 31% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 173 | 25% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 766 | 24% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 182 | 24% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 138 | 24% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 441 | 23% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,224 | 22% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 216 | 22% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 154 | 21% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 174 | 20% |
| 11 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 547 | 19% |
| 12 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 387 | 19% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,309 | 18% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 628 | 18% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,020 | 17% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 221 | 17% |
| 17 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,660 | 16% |
| 18 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,059 | 16% |
| 19 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 470 | 16% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,914 | 15% |
Most common cities for technical services librarians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlsbad | 1 | 1% | $51,969 |
| 2 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $55,020 |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $52,604 |
Technical Services Librarian job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of technical services librarian experts
University of Central Missouri
Texas Woman's University
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
What general advice would you give to a Technical Services 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 Technical Services 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 Technical Services 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 Technical Services 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 Technical Services 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.
What will help Technical Services 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 technical skills for a Technical Services 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.
What's a good job out of college for Technical Services Librarians?
Andrew Wertheimer Ph.D.: To become a librarian or archivist one needs a Master's of Library and Information Science (MLS) so it is a big investment after getting a BA/BS. Each person is going to have their own definition of what is a good job. I advise my students to think about what is important to them. Some will go for the highest paying job, and others will be more excited about the potential for promotion, but I would have to say that our graduates also want to see a learning environment in an organization that really serves their community. I would say that most libraries and archives are great places to work since they are all about helping communities with collections and services.