Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.
Also called: Access Services Librarian, Acquisitions Librarian, AV Collections Coordinator (Audio Visual Collections Coordinator), Bookmobile Librarian, Catalog Librarian, Cataloger
Median pay
$68,270
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$43,660 – $103,990
People employed
133,790
Holland code
CSI
Conventional · Social · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 2.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 3.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 4.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 5.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 6.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 7.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary in every state →
What librarians and media collections specialists do
- 01Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- 02Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
- 03Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
- 04Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
- 05Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
- 06Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from librarians and media collections specialists
- Instructional Coordinators84% · +13%
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary83% · +18%
- Document Management Specialists82% · group pay
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary81% · +53%
- Social Science Research Assistants76% · −9%
Change into librarians and media collections specialists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary80% · $80,340
- Historians75% · $76,750
- Survey Researchers73% · $69,460
- Interpreters and Translators72% · $60,170
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary69% · $78,580
Majors that lead here
- Educational/Instructional Technology
- School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist
- Library and Information Science
- Children and Youth Library Services
- Library Science and Administration, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.