How long does the training take?

Typically about six years of study in total. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do librarians and media collections specialists make?

The US median is $68,270 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

333 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Librarians and media collections specialists: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Education · SOC 25-4022

$68,270US median pay, 2025

+2.6%Projected growth, 2025–35

12,600Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Master's degree
Work in: librarians and media collections specialists

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Educational/Instructional Technology	CIP 13.0501	294
Library and Information Science	CIP 25.0101	67
School Librarian/School Library Media Specialist	CIP 13.1334	32
Children and Youth Library Services	CIP 25.0102	4
Library Science and Administration, Other	CIP 25.0199	1

See the 333 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically about six years of study in total. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do librarians and media collections specialists make?: The US median is $68,270 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 333 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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