Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Also called: Access Services Librarian, Acquisitions Librarian, AV Collections Coordinator (Audio Visual Collections Coordinator), Bookmobile Librarian, Catalog Librarian, Cataloger, Catalogue Librarian, Cataloguer
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing.
What librarians and media collections specialists do
Typical tasks
- Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- Analyze patrons' requests to determine needed information and assist in furnishing or locating that information.
- Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
- Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
- Code, classify, and catalog books, publications, films, audio-visual aids, and other library materials, based on subject matter or standard library classification systems.
- Confer with colleagues, faculty, and community members and organizations to conduct informational programs, make collection decisions, and determine library services to offer.
- Review and evaluate materials, using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audio-visual, and electronic resources.
- Evaluate vendor products and performance, negotiate contracts, and place orders.
- Direct and train library staff in duties, such as receiving, shelving, researching, cataloging, and equipment use.
- Arrange for interlibrary loans of materials not available in a particular library.
- Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as searching computerized databases.
- Check books in and out of the library.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists salary
The median annual wage for librarians and media collections specialists is $68,270 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $43,660 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $103,990. The mean annual wage is $72,840.
The mean hourly wage of $35.00 is 4.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $68,270 → in 3 years $73,600 → in 5 years $77,400 → in 10 years $87,700 (10-year range $75,500–$101,900). The model assumes pay growth of +2.5% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Librarians and Media Collections Specialists? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists United States | 図書館司書 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $68,270 | ¥5.83M ≈ $37,094 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $87,700 | ¥7.01M |
| Outlook score | 50 | 46 |
| AI replacement risk | 63% High | 77% High |
| Workers | 134K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Librarians and Media Collections Specialists
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 5 — extensive preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become librarians and media collections specialists
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as librarians and media collections specialists
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.