Library Assistants, Clerical
Library Assistants, Clerical (SOC 43-4121) earn a median $36,910 a year ($17.74 an hour) in the United States, with 85,520 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What library assistants, clerical do
Library assistants, clerical, handle the routine tasks that keep library materials moving. They sort, shelve, issue, and receive materials such as books, periodicals, electronic media, pictures, and microfilm, and they find items for patrons and return them to the stacks according to identification number and title. At the circulation desk they lend, reserve, and collect materials, register patrons so that they can borrow, manage reserve items, process interlibrary loans, and enter and update patrons' records on computers. They answer routine inquiries, show patrons how to use reference sources, catalogs, and automated information systems, and refer anyone who needs professional help to a librarian. Locating Braille volumes and other special formats is part of the work in some libraries. Assistants also open and close the library at set hours and secure equipment such as computers and audio-visual gear. Library technicians have a separate code and a more technical role.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Access Services Assistant, Acquisitions Assistant, Administrative Library Assistant, Book Sorter, Bookmobile Driver.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.33 | $15.30 | $17.74 | $21.93 | $26.59 | $18.93 | 85,520 |
| Annual | $27,730 | $31,820 | $36,910 | $45,620 | $55,310 | $39,370 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where library assistants, clerical earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $17.94 | $24.50 | $28.55 | $32.53 | $37.78 | $28.47 | 100 | 0.14 | 0.25 |
| Annual | $37,310 | $50,970 | $59,390 | $67,660 | $78,570 | $59,220 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.75 | $18.83 | $23.01 | $29.62 | $33.08 | $24.79 | 11,170 | 0.61 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $36,920 | $39,170 | $47,860 | $61,600 | $68,810 | $51,570 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $18.01 | $19.19 | $22.85 | $26.63 | $29.61 | $23.29 | 2,810 | 0.79 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $37,450 | $39,910 | $47,540 | $55,380 | $61,590 | $48,440 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $15.38 | $17.96 | $22.41 | $27.52 | $28.72 | $22.14 | 660 | 0.43 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $32,000 | $37,360 | $46,620 | $57,240 | $59,740 | $46,040 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $15.45 | $18.17 | $22.07 | $23.96 | $29.55 | $21.71 | 730 | 0.26 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $32,130 | $37,790 | $45,910 | $49,830 | $61,460 | $45,150 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.75 | $18.83 | $23.01 | $29.62 | $33.08 | $24.79 | 11,170 | 0.61 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $36,920 | $39,170 | $47,860 | $61,600 | $68,810 | $51,570 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $15.68 | $16.49 | $17.30 | $22.25 | $27.48 | $19.61 | 8,010 | 0.83 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $32,610 | $34,310 | $35,990 | $46,280 | $57,160 | $40,780 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.00 | $16.67 | $17.67 | $21.40 | $17.40 | 6,620 | 1.09 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,200 | $34,680 | $36,750 | $44,520 | $36,190 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $11.09 | $13.47 | $16.10 | $18.26 | $22.12 | $16.14 | 5,240 | 0.95 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $23,070 | $28,020 | $33,480 | $37,990 | $46,010 | $33,560 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $10.63 | $12.67 | $14.76 | $19.21 | $22.08 | $16.16 | 3,930 | 0.65 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $22,110 | $26,350 | $30,690 | $39,960 | $45,930 | $33,610 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.13 | $22.79 | $30.29 | $33.08 | $39.26 | $29.46 | 1,720 | 0.72 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $39,790 | $47,400 | $63,000 | $68,810 | $81,650 | $61,280 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $19.69 | $22.87 | $30.18 | $30.47 | $37.88 | $29.01 | 840 | 0.74 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $40,940 | $47,560 | $62,780 | $63,380 | $78,790 | $60,340 | ||||
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | Hourly | $16.75 | $17.51 | $26.25 | $26.58 | $31.23 | $23.65 | 100 | 0.50 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $34,840 | $36,420 | $54,590 | $55,290 | $64,950 | $49,180 | ||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | $18.01 | $19.58 | $24.74 | $24.85 | $27.36 | $23.25 | 140 | 1.06 | 1.93 |
| Annual | $37,450 | $40,730 | $51,460 | $51,680 | $56,910 | $48,370 | ||||
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | Hourly | $17.28 | $22.01 | $24.72 | $29.60 | $30.59 | $25.32 | 70 | 0.71 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $35,940 | $45,780 | $51,410 | $61,570 | $63,620 | $52,670 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.34 | $16.73 | $18.20 | $22.87 | $28.72 | $20.56 | 7,080 | 0.75 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $33,980 | $34,800 | $37,860 | $47,560 | $59,730 | $42,760 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $15.00 | $15.19 | $16.90 | $18.44 | $22.35 | $17.72 | 4,420 | 0.98 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $31,600 | $35,160 | $38,360 | $46,490 | $36,860 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.82 | $18.49 | $22.96 | $28.92 | $31.84 | $24.12 | 3,840 | 0.61 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $37,070 | $38,470 | $47,770 | $60,150 | $66,230 | $50,180 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $15.45 | $17.30 | $22.06 | $24.67 | $29.14 | $22.04 | 2,130 | 0.79 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $32,130 | $35,990 | $45,890 | $51,310 | $60,610 | $45,850 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.13 | $22.79 | $30.29 | $33.08 | $39.26 | $29.46 | 1,720 | 0.72 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $39,790 | $47,400 | $63,000 | $68,810 | $81,650 | $61,280 | ||||
Top industries employing library assistants, clerical
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 64.8% of library assistants, clerical nationally (55,440 jobs) at a median $36,600 a year ($17.60 an hour), followed by Elementary and Secondary Schools (13.7%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (9.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 55,440 | 64.8% | $36,600 | $17.60 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 11,720 | 13.7% | $39,140 | $18.82 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 7,750 | 9.1% | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services NAICS 519200 | 7,670 | 9.0% | $34,590 | $16.63 |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 1,660 | 1.9% | $35,340 | $16.99 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (85,520). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,450 for library assistants, clerical in May 2021 and $36,910 in May 2025, with employment of 78,470 and 85,520.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,450 | $14.16 | 78,470 |
| May 2022 | $31,150 | $14.98 | 77,660 |
| May 2023 | $34,020 | $16.36 | 83,680 |
| May 2024 | $36,010 | $17.31 | 80,070 |
| May 2025 | $36,910 | $17.74 | 85,520 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $28.55 | $59,390 | $37,310 | $78,570 | 100 | 0.14 | 0.25 |
| 2 | California profile | $23.01 | $47,860 | $36,920 | $68,810 | 11,170 | 0.61 | 1.12 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $22.85 | $47,540 | $37,450 | $61,590 | 2,810 | 0.79 | 1.44 |
| 4 | Nevada profile | $22.41 | $46,620 | $32,000 | $59,740 | 660 | 0.43 | 0.78 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $22.07 | $45,910 | $32,130 | $61,460 | 730 | 0.26 | 0.48 |
| 6 | Alaska profile | $21.54 | $44,800 | $32,130 | $62,890 | 180 | 0.55 | 1.00 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $20.44 | $42,520 | $32,370 | $59,940 | 2,840 | 0.78 | 1.42 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $20.32 | $42,270 | $33,160 | $50,560 | 1,090 | 0.55 | 1.01 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | $19.22 | $39,970 | $28,850 | $50,510 | 1,770 | 0.60 | 1.09 |
| 10 | New Jersey profile | $19.13 | $39,780 | $32,750 | $56,430 | 3,120 | 0.73 | 1.33 |
| 11 | Wisconsin profile | $19.04 | $39,610 | $30,740 | $51,080 | 1,570 | 0.53 | 0.97 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $18.80 | $39,100 | $34,010 | $58,420 | 1,810 | 1.07 | 1.94 |
| 13 | Montana profile | $18.78 | $39,070 | $27,190 | $45,010 | 160 | 0.31 | 0.56 |
| 14 | Arizona profile | $18.32 | $38,110 | $33,270 | $48,480 | 1,560 | 0.48 | 0.88 |
| 15 | Wyoming profile | $18.29 | $38,040 | $28,350 | $42,590 | ** | ** | ** |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $18.28 | $38,020 | $29,250 | $54,180 | 2,170 | 0.53 | 0.96 |
| 17 | Maine profile | $18.22 | $37,890 | $32,970 | $48,540 | 540 | 0.84 | 1.52 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $18.21 | $37,880 | $29,420 | $45,960 | 3,630 | 0.37 | 0.67 |
| 19 | Tennessee profile | $17.98 | $37,410 | $24,180 | $54,230 | 1,110 | 0.34 | 0.62 |
| 20 | New Hampshire profile | $17.98 | $37,400 | $27,800 | $48,220 | 990 | 1.46 | 2.65 |
| 21 | Hawaii profile | $17.84 | $37,110 | $30,040 | $46,920 | 370 | 0.58 | 1.06 |
| 22 | Delaware profile | $17.83 | $37,090 | $31,200 | $39,700 | 270 | 0.55 | 1.00 |
| 23 | Rhode Island profile | $17.60 | $36,610 | $31,200 | $49,550 | 510 | 1.01 | 1.84 |
| 24 | Vermont profile | $17.52 | $36,430 | $29,190 | $49,050 | 350 | 1.14 | 2.07 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $17.51 | $36,410 | $28,460 | $49,640 | 610 | 0.12 | 0.23 |
| 26 | Colorado profile | $17.37 | $36,130 | $30,800 | $47,730 | 470 | 0.16 | 0.30 |
| 27 | New York profile | $17.30 | $35,990 | $32,610 | $57,160 | 8,010 | 0.83 | 1.50 |
| 28 | New Mexico profile | $16.95 | $35,250 | $30,690 | $41,600 | 150 | 0.17 | 0.31 |
| 29 | Illinois profile | $16.67 | $34,680 | $31,200 | $44,520 | 6,620 | 1.09 | 1.97 |
| 30 | North Carolina profile | $16.61 | $34,550 | $25,040 | $45,690 | 1,330 | 0.27 | 0.49 |
| 31 | North Dakota profile | $16.60 | $34,530 | $21,200 | $53,000 | 60 | 0.14 | 0.26 |
| 32 | Michigan profile | $16.59 | $34,510 | $27,170 | $44,060 | 3,470 | 0.79 | 1.43 |
| 33 | South Carolina profile | $16.34 | $33,980 | $23,980 | $44,090 | 960 | 0.42 | 0.76 |
| 34 | Idaho profile | $16.33 | $33,960 | $21,990 | $43,390 | 920 | 1.07 | 1.95 |
| 35 | Missouri profile | $16.23 | $33,760 | $28,600 | $40,780 | 1,610 | 0.55 | 1.00 |
| 36 | Kentucky profile | $16.20 | $33,690 | $25,720 | $43,630 | 1,050 | 0.53 | 0.96 |
| 37 | Ohio profile | $16.10 | $33,480 | $23,070 | $46,010 | 5,240 | 0.95 | 1.72 |
| 38 | Utah profile | $15.72 | $32,690 | $24,030 | $45,670 | 820 | 0.48 | 0.86 |
| 39 | Kansas profile | $15.17 | $31,550 | $20,800 | $41,180 | 1,380 | 0.96 | 1.75 |
| 40 | Texas profile | $15.00 | $31,200 | $21,900 | $39,940 | 1,600 | 0.11 | 0.21 |
| 41 | Arkansas profile | $14.95 | $31,100 | $24,120 | $34,930 | 390 | 0.30 | 0.54 |
| 42 | West Virginia profile | $14.81 | $30,800 | $26,380 | $36,840 | 450 | 0.64 | 1.16 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania profile | $14.76 | $30,690 | $22,110 | $45,930 | 3,930 | 0.65 | 1.18 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $14.25 | $29,640 | $19,810 | $40,250 | 800 | 0.47 | 0.85 |
| 45 | Louisiana profile | $14.24 | $29,620 | $19,680 | $45,070 | 720 | 0.37 | 0.67 |
| 46 | Iowa profile | $14.17 | $29,480 | $21,950 | $45,310 | 1,700 | 1.09 | 1.99 |
| 47 | Indiana profile | $13.89 | $28,900 | $21,170 | $37,240 | 1,830 | 0.57 | 1.04 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $13.52 | $28,110 | $18,120 | $36,920 | 440 | 0.38 | 0.69 |
| 49 | Nebraska profile | $13.50 | $28,080 | $28,080 | $37,380 | 310 | 0.30 | 0.55 |
| 50 | Alabama profile | $13.24 | $27,530 | $21,700 | $38,110 | 900 | 0.42 | 0.77 |
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-4121 Library Assistants, Clerical.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-4121, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-4121.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.