Librarians and Media Collections Specialists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Education, Training, and Library · SOC 25-4022 · O*NET 25-4022.00
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.
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists fall under the Education, Training, and Library category in the U.S. occupational classification. Librarians and Media Collections Specialists earn a median salary of $64,320 per year, ranking in the top 40% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +1.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do librarians and media collections specialists earn?
The median annual wage for librarians and media collections specialists is $64,320. That puts librarians and media collections specialists at #323 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $38,920 |
| 25th percentile | $50,920 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $64,320 |
| 75th percentile | $80,640 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,880 |
| Median hourly wage | $30.92/hr |
Is librarians and media collections specialists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for librarians and media collections specialists is +1.7%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 142K positions in 2024 to 144K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do librarians and media collections specialists do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working librarians and media collections specialists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Search standard reference materials, including online sources and the Internet, to answer patrons' reference questions.
- 2.Keep up-to-date records of circulation and materials, maintain inventory, and correct cataloging errors.
- 3.Plan and teach classes on topics such as information literacy, library instruction, and technology use.
- 4.Plan and deliver client-centered programs and services, such as special services for corporate clients, storytelling for children, newsletters, or programs for special groups.
- 5.Troubleshoot problems with audio-visual equipment.
- 6.Evaluate materials to determine outdated or unused items to be discarded.
- 7.Engage in professional development activities, such as taking continuing education classes and attending or participating in conferences, workshops, professional meetings, and associations.
- 8.Represent library or institution on internal and external committees.
Top skills for librarians and media collections specialists
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become librarians and media collections specialist?
The standard path into librarians and media collections specialists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
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How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about librarians and media collections specialists
What is the median salary for librarians and media collections specialists?
The median annual salary for librarians and media collections specialists is $64,320 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is librarians and media collections specialists a growing career?
BLS projects +1.7% growth for librarians and media collections specialists from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become librarians and media collections specialist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to librarians and media collections specialists?
Related occupations within the Education, Training, and Library category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.