Librarian & Library Media Specialist
Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use.
What the job is
- The work
- Librarians and library media specialists help people find information and conduct research for personal and professional use.
BLS
Librarians and Library Media Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Librarians and library media specialists work for local governments, schools, and other organizations. Most work full time, although part-time work is common.
BLS
Librarians and Library Media Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Curious, organized people who like research and helping others find information.
- Career cluster
- Education
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (librarians and library media specialists).
- Median pay
- $68,270 a year ($32.82 an hour)
BLS
Librarians and Library Media Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 142,300
- Typical entry
- Master's degree
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +3%, which BLS calls "as fast as average"
BLS
Librarians and Library Media Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +3,600 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Librarians typically need a master’s degree in library science (MLS). School librarians and library media specialists typically need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field, along with a teaching certificate; requirements vary by state.
BLS
Librarians and Library Media Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Librarians typically need a master's in library science (MLS), which takes 1 to 2 years after a bachelor's in any major. School librarians usually also need a teaching certificate.
- License
- School librarians: teaching certificate
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaState guide
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaState guide
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkState guide
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasState guide
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Librarian: bachelor's, then a master's in library science (MLS)
See the roadmap
Route 1: Bachelor's (any major) → MLS → librarian · Route 2: Education degree + library media → teaching certificate → school librarian · Route 3: MLS + a field: law, medical or corporate librarian
More careers in Education
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.