Occupations · Office and Administrative Support

Library Assistants, Clerical

Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title. Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 43-4121.00

$36,010median annual wage, May 2024

80,070people employed, United States

▼ 6.7%projected change, 2024→2034

12,800openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 81% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$37,370	5,660
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$47,910	3,210
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$34,980	2,950
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$44,180	2,140
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$37,980	1,910
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$62,430	1,670
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$44,360	1,260
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$43,730	1,210
Pittsburgh, PA	$28,860	1,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$49,090	1,060
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$35,890	970
St. Louis, MO-IL	$31,050	920

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
Open and close library during specified hours and secure library equipment, such as computers and audio-visual equipment.
Classify and catalog items according to content and purpose.
Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
Answer routine inquiries and refer patrons in need of professional assistance to librarians.
Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.
Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.
Inspect returned books for condition and due-date status and compute any applicable fines.
Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.
Perform clerical activities, such as answering phones, sorting mail, filing, typing, word processing, and photocopying and mailing out material.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Active Listening3.2

Reading Comprehension3.2

Critical Thinking3.0

Speaking3.0

Writing3.0

Monitoring2.9

Learning Strategies2.5

Active Learning2.2

Mathematics2.1

Science1.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Acrobat●Adobe Photoshop●C++●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Windows●Microsoft Word●Automated circulation systemsCataloging softwareDatabase softwareMicrosoft PublisherOnline Computer Library Center (OCLC) databasesRecordkeeping softwareResourceMate PlusVideo retrieval systemsWeb browser softwareWorldCat

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

2 / 5Some preparation — a school diploma and a few months of on-the-job training.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.6 below average

Consequence of Error−1.5 below average

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment−1.2 below average

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment−1.1 below average

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions−1.0 below average

Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures−1.0 below average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−0.9 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2018-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)50%

Some College Courses14%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)12%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)11%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2018-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional6.9

Social3.8

Realistic2.9

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Hire library staff such as student assistants.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Service Orientation3.4

Coordination3.0

Time Management2.9

Social Perceptiveness2.9

Complex Problem Solving2.9

Instructing2.8

Judgment and Decision Making2.8

Management of Personnel Resources2.2

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Customer and Personal ServiceAdministrativeEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPsychologyComputers and Electronics

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionOral ExpressionInformation OrderingOral ComprehensionNear VisionSpeech Clarity

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

PageBook SorterLibrary PageLibrary AideLibrary ClerkMicrofilm ClerkMedia AssistantStacks AssistantBookmobile DriverLibrary AssociateLibrary AssistantCirculation ClerkLibrary SpecialistFilm Library Clerk

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 6

+Microsoft Windows+Microsoft Outlook+C+++Adobe Acrobat+Adobe Photoshop+Microsoft Publisher

No longer listed 3

−Word processing software−Online Computer Library Center OCLC−Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

PageClerkLibrarianBook SorterMedia ClerkLibrary PageLibrary AideLibrary ClerkMicrofilm ClerkMedia AssistantStacks AssistantLibrary Assistant

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
file clerk	4415.1	close
archivist	2621.1	close
exhibition registrar	2621.6	close
big data archive librarian	3433.2	close
zoo registrar	2621.9	broader
library assistant	4411.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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