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Library Science

Instructional programs that focus on the knowledge and skills required for managing and/or maintaining libraries and related information and record systems, collections and facilities for research and general use.

Types of Degrees Library Science Majors Are Earning

Those studying Library Science have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	35
Associate’s Degree	177
Bachelor’s Degree	110
Master’s Degree	6,686
Doctor’s Degree	9

What Library Science Majors Need to Know

Studies in Library Science develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Library Science graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Library Science emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Library Science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Library Science careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Library Science graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.6 / 7
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.1 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.1 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Library Science professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft SharePoint	Document management software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Extensible markup language XML	Enterprise application integration software	—
Structured query language SQL	Data base user interface and query software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Library Science graduates include:

• Film and Media Program Instructor
• Medical Record Librarians Teacher
• Library Instructor
• College Faculty Member
• Lecturer
• Classification Instructor
• Medical Records Library Professor
• Information Science Professor
• Library Professor
• Professor
• Assistant Professor
• Instructor
• Library Science Professor
• University Faculty Member
• College Professor

What Can You Do With a Library Science Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Library Science commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Archivists	1.6%	$53,759	$45,900–$61,618
Library Technicians	-2.6%	$37,590	$31,054–$44,127

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Library Science graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	32.1%
Bachelor’s degree	23.9%
Doctoral degree	20.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	6.5%
High school diploma or equivalent	3.7%
Postsecondary certificate	3.7%
Some college courses	3.2%
Post-doctoral training	2.6%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.8%
Post-master’s certificate	1.8%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Library Science?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 83.8% of Library Science degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	5,904	83.8%
Men	1,138	16.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Library Science graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	4,907	69.7%
Asian	291	4.1%
Hispanic or Latino	906	12.9%
Black or African American	386	5.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native	39	0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	3	0.0%
Two or More Races	227	3.2%
Race Unknown	245	3.5%
International Students	38	0.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Library Science Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Library Science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$48,696
4 years	$51,904
5 years	$57,387

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $57,387 — roughly 18% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Library Science Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Library Science. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	8	5
Bachelor’s	3	1
Master’s	35	19
Doctoral (Research)	1	2

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Library Science Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Library Science graduates earn a median of $51,904 four years after completion — roughly 37% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.