Library technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $44,580 | $21.43 |
| Mean (average) | $45,500 | $21.88 |
| 90th percentile | $63,080 | $30.33 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Library technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,150 | $29,190 | $48,380 | 390 | 0.42 |
| Alaska | $46,940 | $35,810 | $62,590 | 220 | 1.53 |
| Arizona | $40,510 | $30,590 | $58,090 | 820 | 0.57 |
| Arkansas | $28,570 | $25,800 | $39,010 | 390 | 0.67 |
| California | $53,260 | $40,260 | $76,880 | 7,190 | 0.89 |
| Colorado | $46,680 | $36,230 | $58,740 | 2,250 | 1.77 |
| Connecticut | $57,060 | $34,010 | $80,180 | 930 | 1.25 |
| Delaware | $47,580 | $34,830 | $60,560 | 210 | 0.96 |
| District of Columbia | $61,040 | $48,960 | $72,720 | 390 | 1.27 |
| Florida | $41,080 | $34,660 | $57,580 | 3,070 | 0.7 |
| Georgia | $37,320 | $27,420 | $48,010 | 2,130 | 0.99 |
| Hawaii | $50,870 | $41,800 | $61,870 | 110 | 0.4 |
| Idaho | $34,510 | $24,960 | $46,100 | 520 | 1.37 |
| Illinois | $47,120 | $33,780 | $63,170 | 2,140 | 0.79 |
| Indiana | $35,560 | $25,110 | $47,090 | 1,470 | 1.04 |
| Iowa | $38,590 | $28,230 | $61,570 | 1,510 | 2.19 |
| Kansas | $41,960 | $31,480 | $57,190 | 480 | 0.76 |
| Kentucky | $35,700 | $28,550 | $49,460 | 670 | 0.76 |
| Louisiana | $39,180 | $27,740 | $57,980 | 1,410 | 1.64 |
| Maine | $44,520 | $33,780 | $58,430 | 320 | 1.13 |
| Maryland | $48,920 | $36,170 | $75,460 | 1,980 | 1.62 |
| Massachusetts | $50,430 | $38,450 | $64,980 | 1,910 | 1.19 |
| Michigan | $34,680 | $25,960 | $51,990 | 2,180 | 1.12 |
| Minnesota | $51,110 | $34,340 | $63,480 | 1,180 | 0.9 |
| Mississippi | $27,080 | $22,420 | $45,050 | 270 | 0.53 |
| Missouri | $39,160 | $29,580 | $48,120 | 1,360 | 1.05 |
| Montana | $38,220 | $28,690 | $56,080 | 370 | 1.66 |
| Nebraska | $36,920 | $28,730 | $51,060 | 710 | 1.56 |
| Nevada | $45,650 | $30,290 | $62,030 | 410 | 0.59 |
| New Hampshire | $48,650 | $31,200 | $62,440 | 280 | 0.94 |
| New Jersey | $48,840 | $32,220 | $69,730 | 1,060 | 0.56 |
| New Mexico | $38,830 | $29,160 | $56,140 | 540 | 1.41 |
| New York | $50,060 | $34,240 | $76,060 | 3,390 | 0.79 |
| North Carolina | $46,520 | $30,670 | $58,490 | 2,350 | 1.08 |
| North Dakota | $39,240 | $34,910 | $50,090 | 370 | 1.97 |
| Ohio | $37,920 | $28,090 | $58,060 | 4,020 | 1.64 |
| Oklahoma | $29,440 | $22,520 | $48,290 | 830 | 1.1 |
| Oregon | $49,970 | $38,070 | $62,520 | 1,810 | 2.09 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,100 | $29,430 | $63,530 | 1,560 | 0.58 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,890 | $21,840 | $47,200 | 250 | 0.6 |
| Rhode Island | $48,740 | $31,200 | $64,120 | 160 | 0.74 |
| South Carolina | $36,070 | $23,690 | $49,800 | 650 | 0.64 |
| South Dakota | $29,590 | $26,060 | $47,600 | 650 | 3.2 |
| Tennessee | $36,400 | $20,980 | $51,120 | 390 | 0.27 |
| Texas | $38,640 | $28,840 | $49,210 | 5,180 | 0.83 |
| Utah | $40,160 | $23,670 | $53,460 | 310 | 0.4 |
| Vermont | $50,090 | $37,400 | $60,760 | 150 | 1.1 |
| Virginia | $45,560 | $31,030 | $62,300 | 2,580 | 1.42 |
| Washington | $62,570 | $50,310 | $76,860 | 1,850 | 1.18 |
| West Virginia | $30,300 | $27,010 | $47,560 | 280 | 0.91 |
| Wisconsin | $35,000 | $23,080 | $51,230 | 2,890 | 2.22 |
| Wyoming | $26,850 | $25,930 | $49,120 | 400 | 3.19 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for library technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 10,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for library technicians
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Library and Archives Assisting CIP 25.0301
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Database software
- Dynix Digital Library
- Email software
- Ex Libris Group Aleph
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Management of Personnel Resources.
Common job titles: Circulation Clerk, Library Aide, Library Assistant, Library Associate, Library Clerk, Library Media Technician, Library Specialist, Library Technical Assistant (LTA), Library Technician, Page Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do library technicians make?
The national median annual wage for library technicians was $44,580 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,300 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $63,080. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do library technicians need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is library technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of library technicians to change -6.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 10,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay library technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($62,570), District of Columbia ($61,040), Connecticut ($57,060). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.