What Does a Library Assistant Do?
Most readers put a lot of trust in a catalog that says a book is on the shelf. But that trust rests on library assistants, who check items in and out, shelve them in the right place and track down the ones that go missing. They also handle holds, fines and library cards.
Also known as: Senior Library Assistant
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Acquisitions Assistant, Cataloging Assistant, Library Aide, Library Associate, Library Circulation Assistant, Library Clerical Assistant, Library Clerk, Library Services Assistant.
Library Assistant Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a library assistant include:
- Check books and media in and out at the circulation desk and renew patron loans.
- Shelve returned items in call number order and read shelves to fix misplaced books.
- Register new patrons, update library card accounts and explain borrowing rules.
- Process holds and interlibrary loan pickups, and notify patrons when items arrive.
- Collect fines and fees, and balance the cash drawer at the end of each shift.
- Search for missing or claimed-returned items and update their status in the catalog.
- Label, stamp and cover new books before they go on the shelf.
- Direct patrons to catalog searches, printers and study rooms, and refer research questions to librarians.
- Pull items for course reserves each term and return them when the term ends.
- Empty book drops, sort returns and send damaged items for repair.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a library assistant, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Library systems such as Alma, Sierra or Koha
- Library of Congress or Dewey call numbers
- Cash handling
- Friendly service at a busy desk
- Attention to detail when shelving
- Lifting and pushing loaded book carts
- Basic computer and printer help for patrons
- Tact when enforcing fines and rules
Education and Training
A high school diploma and short on-the-job training are usually enough to start. Work as a library page or student worker is a common way in. With experience, you could progress from library assistant to senior assistant or library technician, and a degree could later open the way to librarian.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $31,820 - $45,620 per year, with a median of $36,910.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Library Assistants, Clerical.
BLS projects employment of library assistants, clerical, to decline about 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, partly as self-checkout and online services take over routine desk work. Turnover should still leave roughly 12,300 openings a year. Hiring often is tied to local and campus budgets, so public and academic libraries tend to hire on different cycles.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Library assistants, clerical.
Library Assistant Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $27,730 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $31,820 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $36,910 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $45,620 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $55,310 |
Highest-Paying States for Library Assistants
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are District of Columbia ($59,390), California ($47,860), Washington ($47,540), Nevada ($46,620), Maryland ($45,910). Pay is lowest in Mississippi ($28,110), Nebraska ($28,080), Alabama ($27,530).
Median pay in all 50 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,530 |
| Alaska | $44,800 |
| Arizona | $38,110 |
| Arkansas | $31,100 |
| California | $47,860 |
| Colorado | $36,130 |
| Connecticut | $39,100 |
| Delaware | $37,090 |
| District of Columbia | $59,390 |
| Florida | $37,880 |
| Georgia | $36,410 |
| Hawaii | $37,110 |
| Idaho | $33,960 |
| Illinois | $34,680 |
| Indiana | $28,900 |
| Iowa | $29,480 |
| Kansas | $31,550 |
| Kentucky | $33,690 |
| Louisiana | $29,620 |
| Maine | $37,890 |
| Maryland | $45,910 |
| Massachusetts | $42,520 |
| Michigan | $34,510 |
| Minnesota | $39,970 |
| Mississippi | $28,110 |
| Missouri | $33,760 |
| Montana | $39,070 |
| Nebraska | $28,080 |
| Nevada | $46,620 |
| New Hampshire | $37,400 |
| New Jersey | $39,780 |
| New Mexico | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,990 |
| North Carolina | $34,550 |
| North Dakota | $34,530 |
| Ohio | $33,480 |
| Oklahoma | $29,640 |
| Oregon | $42,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,690 |
| Rhode Island | $36,610 |
| South Carolina | $33,980 |
| Tennessee | $37,410 |
| Texas | $31,200 |
| Utah | $32,690 |
| Vermont | $36,430 |
| Virginia | $38,020 |
| Washington | $47,540 |
| West Virginia | $30,800 |
| Wisconsin | $39,610 |
| Wyoming | $38,040 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as library assistants, clerical about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 93% use email every day
- 86% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 82% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 77% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 67% are on the phone every day
- 53% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 42% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 50% |
| Some college | 14% |
| Associate's degree | 12% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 11% |
Tools and Software Library Assistants Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as helping, teaching or caring for people.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Critical Thinking.
Knowledge areas used most: Customer and Personal Service, Administrative, English Language, Education and Training, Psychology.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Library Assistant Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 43-4121.00 (Library Assistants, Clerical). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.