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Field of degree: Library science

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Library science field of degree. Employment: 27,550. Median annual wage: $48,000.

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Table 1. Library science degree, 2022
Data	Library science	All fields
Employment	27,550	62,187,580
Median wage	48,000	66,000
Percent employed part time	28	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	71	62
Percent with an advanced degree	71	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of library science major, 2022.

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Chart 1. Types of library science, 2022
Library science major	Major share
Library Science	100%
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a library science degree, by occupational group, 2022.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a library science degree, by occupational group, 2022
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Educational instruction and library occupations	47%
Office and administrative support occupations	10
Management occupations	10
Business and financial operations occupations	6
Computer and mathematical occupations	6
Other	22
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a library science degree.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a library science degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2023–33	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2022	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2022
Museum technicians and conservators	11%	Bachelor's degree	2%	39%
Accountants and auditors	6	Bachelor's degree	3	30
General and operations managers	6	Bachelor's degree	2	13
Librarians and media collections specialists	3	Master's degree	32	59
Retail salespersons	0	No formal educational credential	2	4
Childcare workers	-1	High school diploma or equivalent	2	3
Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary	-1	Master's degree	2	56
Elementary school teachers, except special education	-1	Bachelor's degree	8	49
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	-1	Bachelor's degree	2	56
Library assistants, clerical	-6	High school diploma or equivalent	2	10
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Library science,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/library-science/library-science-field-of-degree.htm (visited April 18, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024