How to Become a Librarian
Curate collections and connect people with information, from public libraries to schools and research institutions. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $68,270 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$68,270/yr
Middle half
$56,310 to $84,480
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
13,500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Collection Management
- Research Assistance
- Information Literacy
- Reading Comprehension
- Community Programming
Helpful certifications
- MLIS (ALA-accredited)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
3/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
49/100
Related careers
- School Principal (K-12 Administrator)$105,870 median
- College Administrator (Postsecondary)$104,590 median
- School Psychologist$95,990 median
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440 median
- Teacher (Secondary Education)$72,040 median
- Career and Technical Education Teacher$66,270 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Librarian make?
The median pay for a Librarian is $68,270 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $56,310 and $84,480 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Librarian?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Library and Information Science, English, and Education.
Is Librarian a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 13,500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Librarian use most?
Common skills for this role are Collection Management, Research Assistance, Information Literacy, Reading Comprehension, and Community Programming.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).