Library Assistants, Clerical: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Library Assistants, Clerical fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Library Assistants, Clerical earn a median salary of $36,010 per year, ranking in the top 94% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -6.7% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, 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 library assistants, clerical earn?

The median annual wage for library assistants, clerical is $36,010. That puts library assistants, clerical at #759 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. 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.

Is library assistants, clerical a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for library assistants, clerical is -6.7%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 84K positions in 2024 to 78K in 2034, a net change of -6K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do library assistants, clerical do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working library assistants, clerical, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
2. 2.Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
3. 3.Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
4. 4.Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.
5. 5.Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.
6. 6.Prepare library statistics reports.
7. 7.Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
8. 8.Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.

Top skills for library assistants, clerical

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 library assistants, clerical?

Many library assistants, clerical enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. 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.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
  $74,260 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  $66,140 median
• Brokerage Clerks
  $62,940 median
• Postal Service Clerks
  $61,630 median
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
  $57,770 median
• Postal Service Mail Carriers
  $57,490 median

Common questions parents ask about library assistants, clerical