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The differences between youth services librarians and library technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a youth services librarian, becoming a library technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a youth services librarian has an average salary of $49,971, which is higher than the $37,757 average annual salary of a library technician.
The top three skills for a youth services librarian include social work, mental health and community outreach. The most important skills for a library technician are library services, data entry, and circulation desk.
| Youth Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,971 | $37,757 |
| Hourly rate | $24.02 | $18.15 |
| Growth rate | 6% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 55,418 | 24,941 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Youth services librarians are people who plan and conduct the library's programs and services for children. The librarians execute their tasks under the supervision of a library director. They communicate with teachers, parents, homeschoolers, and community members for library service improvement. Their job includes assisting library patrons in search of the necessary material in answering reference questions and offering reader advisory. Also, they uphold patrons' confidentiality rights and their records.
A library technician is responsible for sorting books and other catalogs to their appropriate shelf for easy and accurate searching. Library technicians manage and monitor the materials borrowed from the facility, keeping a record of the borrower's information and updating details on the library's database. They also assist the visitors with their inquiries and concerns, leading them to the appropriate area of their needs, and remind everyone of the policies and regulations inside the library.
Youth services librarians and library technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,971 | $37,757 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $71,000 | Between $29,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | West Sacramento, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Syracuse University |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between a youth services librarian and a library technician in terms of educational background:
| Youth Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | University of Washington | New York University |
Here are the differences between youth services librarians' and library technicians' demographics:
| Youth Services Librarian | Library Technician | |
| Average age | 48 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.1% Female, 72.9% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 9.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.3% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 11% |