Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary vs Library Technicians: $80K vs $45K Median Pay

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary vs Library Technicians: what changes?

Consider Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary if you want to teach courses in library science. Consider Library Technicians if you would rather assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard…. Entry credentials differ: Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary, doctoral or professional degree; Library Technicians, postsecondary nondegree award.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary and Library Technicians. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary

National median pay (2025): $80,340
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and present findings in professional journals, books, electronic media, or at professional conferences.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 300

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (4,500 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary brief

Library Technicians

National median pay (2025): $44,580
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Reserve, circulate, renew, and discharge books and other materials.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 10,800

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 6.4% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Library Technicians brief

How the national numbers differ

Library Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Library Technicians is at 10,800 annual openings, compared with 300 annual openings for Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary.

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary has the edge on median pay

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary is at $80,340, compared with $44,580 for Library Technicians.

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary has the edge on projected growth

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary is at 2.7% projected growth, compared with -6.4% projected growth for Library Technicians.

Typical preparation differs.

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary: Doctoral or professional degree Library Technicians: Postsecondary nondegree award Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

36.8/ 100

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary

34.5/ 100

Library Technicians

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary vs Library Technicians

Dimension	Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary	Library Technicians
Median pay (2025)	$80,340	$44,580
Pay percentile	72.9 percentile	17.2 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.7%	-6.4%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	300	10,800
2025 employment	4,500	72,800
How you qualify	Doctoral or professional degree	Postsecondary nondegree award
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 5	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary brief Read Library Technicians brief

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary vs Library Technicians: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Library Technicians

How the national numbers differ

Library Technicians has the edge on annual openings

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary has the edge on median pay

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary vs Library Technicians

Try another comparison

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary vs Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary vs Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Library Technicians vs Librarians and Media Collections Specialists

Library Technicians vs Archivists