Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries.
National median · BLS
$44,580
▲ +11.53%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$45,500
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
68,690
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Library Technicians
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$29,300
25th
$35,740
Median (50th)
$44,580
75th
$52,430
90th — top pay
$63,080
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
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Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Library Technicians
BLS projects employment of library technicians to decline 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 10,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
72,800 → 68,100
-4,600 jobs
Projected change
-6.4%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
10,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
No related experience required
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Library Technicians salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Library Technicians
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Reading Comprehension3.4
Active Listening3.3
Speaking3.3
Service Orientation3.1
Coordination3.0
Critical Thinking3.0
Learning Strategies3.0
Social Perceptiveness3.0
Active Learning2.9
Judgment and Decision Making2.9
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal Service4.1
English Language3.8
Administrative3.4
Computers and Electronics3.3
Education and Training3.2
Communications and Media2.8
Psychology2.6
Mathematics2.6
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareAdobe AcrobatAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordAdobe DreamweaverDatabase softwareDynix Digital LibraryEmail softwareEx Libris Group AlephEx Libris Group VoyagerFileMaker Pro
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What library technicians do
Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.
Answer routine telephone or in-person reference inquiries, referring patrons to librarians for further assistance, when necessary.
Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audio-visual equipment, computers, and other electronic resources and provide technical assistance when needed.
Deliver and retrieve items throughout the library by hand or using pushcart.
Process print and non-print library materials to prepare them for inclusion in library collections.
Catalogue and sort books and other print and non-print materials according to procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
Provide assistance to teachers and students by locating materials and helping to complete special projects.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Library Technicians, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $44,580.
