Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1082) earn a median $80,340 a year in the United States, with 3,630 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What library science teachers, postsecondary do
Library science teachers teach graduate and undergraduate students subjects including how collections are developed, archival methods, and indexing and abstracting. They deliver lectures, grade assignments, present research at conferences and in journals, and follow changes in the information field. These faculty train students for library and information work, which separates them from practicing librarians. The occupation counts only teachers in library science programs; practicing librarians are counted elsewhere. Alternate titles include information science professor, classification instructor, and film and media program instructor. They also prepare syllabi and other course materials, plan and revise curricula, moderate classroom discussions, and compile and grade examinations. Both those primarily engaged in teaching and those who combine teaching with research are included, and research findings are presented in professional journals, books, and electronic media.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a doctoral degree.
Also called: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Classification Instructor, College Faculty Member, College Professor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 3,630 |
| Annual | $57,200 | $64,080 | $80,340 | $100,910 | $129,120 | $88,110 | ||
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 science teachers, postsecondary 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 | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 310 | 0.02 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $72,770 | $98,980 | $125,640 | $155,330 | $222,470 | $134,640 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.03 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $58,430 | $58,430 | $123,170 | $132,390 | $163,740 | $108,720 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.03 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $75,110 | $86,750 | $104,540 | $161,560 | $161,560 | $117,760 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 30 | 0.01 | 0.23 |
| Annual | $57,560 | $67,410 | $86,250 | $101,660 | $123,100 | $88,430 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.03 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $63,630 | $74,150 | $85,130 | $113,370 | $135,890 | $95,920 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Illinois | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 390 | 0.07 | 2.77 |
| Annual | $60,910 | $66,180 | $80,760 | $99,310 | $123,340 | $85,270 | ||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 310 | 0.02 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $72,770 | $98,980 | $125,640 | $155,330 | $222,470 | $134,640 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 250 | 0.05 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $50,350 | $63,850 | $79,460 | $83,620 | $108,330 | $81,580 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 210 | 0.02 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $40,620 | $61,050 | $76,060 | $104,540 | $130,210 | $93,090 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 210 | 0.06 | 2.73 |
| Annual | $61,200 | $63,840 | $76,940 | $102,680 | $116,950 | $83,180 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.02 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $119,750 | $151,720 | $156,310 | $234,060 | $250,700 | $175,360 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 30 | 0.02 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $99,270 | $99,270 | $129,150 | $133,930 | $200,780 | $132,660 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.02 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $79,230 | $105,280 | $129,120 | $151,690 | $222,470 | $135,440 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.04 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $75,730 | $104,540 | $126,820 | $161,560 | $161,560 | $122,270 | ||||
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.21 | 8.91 |
| Annual | $67,790 | $95,940 | $113,290 | $182,660 | $220,270 | $134,850 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 220 | 0.05 | 2.10 |
| Annual | $60,910 | $62,480 | $78,060 | $97,170 | $100,610 | $79,910 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.02 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $64,120 | $75,860 | $101,920 | $122,560 | $196,160 | $112,820 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.03 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $58,430 | $58,430 | $99,720 | $132,390 | $163,740 | $108,360 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.04 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $75,730 | $104,540 | $126,820 | $161,560 | $161,560 | $122,270 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.01 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $71,670 | $80,640 | $109,250 | $133,400 | $207,190 | $122,290 | ||||
Top industries employing library science teachers, postsecondary
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools employ 85.1% of library science teachers, postsecondary nationally (3,090 jobs) at a median $78,820 a year, followed by Junior Colleges (14.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 3,090 | 85.1% | $78,820 | * |
| Junior Colleges NAICS 611200 | 530 | 14.6% | $99,880 | * |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (3,630). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,100 for library science teachers, postsecondary in May 2021 and $80,340 in May 2025, with employment of 4,330 and 3,630.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,100 | * | 4,330 |
| May 2022 | $76,370 | * | 4,330 |
| May 2023 | $80,310 | * | 4,220 |
| May 2024 | $78,630 | * | 4,100 |
| May 2025 | $80,340 | * | 3,630 |
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
28 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 | California profile | * | $125,640 | $72,770 | $222,470 | 310 | 0.02 | 0.74 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | * | $123,170 | $58,430 | $163,740 | 90 | 0.03 | 1.34 |
| 3 | Washington profile | * | $104,540 | $75,110 | $161,560 | 90 | 0.03 | 1.12 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania profile | * | $86,250 | $57,560 | $123,100 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.23 |
| 5 | New Jersey profile | * | $85,130 | $63,630 | $135,890 | 120 | 0.03 | 1.23 |
| 6 | Iowa profile | * | $83,950 | $55,250 | $98,940 | 40 | 0.03 | 1.07 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | * | $83,710 | $64,190 | $105,500 | 110 | 0.04 | 1.61 |
| 8 | Michigan profile | * | $83,370 | $63,970 | $108,290 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.72 |
| 9 | Indiana profile | * | $83,330 | $57,440 | $120,680 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.05 |
| 10 | Virginia profile | * | $82,880 | $66,730 | $121,480 | 100 | 0.02 | 1.05 |
| 11 | Ohio profile | * | $82,610 | $64,310 | $104,730 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.42 |
| 12 | Oregon profile | * | $81,890 | $65,910 | $132,080 | 90 | 0.05 | 2.06 |
| 13 | Massachusetts profile | * | $80,850 | $49,750 | $106,670 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.62 |
| 14 | Illinois profile | * | $80,760 | $60,910 | $123,340 | 390 | 0.07 | 2.77 |
| 15 | North Carolina profile | * | $79,460 | $50,350 | $108,330 | 250 | 0.05 | 2.20 |
| 16 | Tennessee profile | * | $76,940 | $61,200 | $116,950 | 210 | 0.06 | 2.73 |
| 17 | Texas profile | * | $76,940 | $61,090 | $100,630 | 180 | 0.01 | 0.56 |
| 18 | Alabama profile | * | $76,340 | $51,870 | $98,200 | 130 | 0.06 | 2.66 |
| 19 | New York profile | * | $76,060 | $40,620 | $130,210 | 210 | 0.02 | 0.93 |
| 20 | Florida profile | * | $75,500 | $52,450 | $121,370 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.43 |
| 21 | Missouri profile | * | $74,800 | $54,260 | $102,230 | 60 | 0.02 | 0.92 |
| 22 | Georgia profile | * | $72,510 | $56,800 | $99,540 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.95 |
| 23 | Nebraska profile | * | $66,190 | $51,580 | $75,760 | 40 | 0.04 | 1.71 |
| 24 | Kansas profile | * | $66,100 | $43,200 | $112,120 | 60 | 0.04 | 1.67 |
| 25 | Oklahoma profile | * | $65,620 | $50,280 | $86,220 | 80 | 0.05 | 1.99 |
| 26 | South Carolina profile | * | $65,310 | $60,520 | $101,610 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.73 |
| 27 | Kentucky profile | * | $63,660 | $48,930 | $93,300 | 60 | 0.03 | 1.23 |
| 28 | Mississippi profile | * | $59,920 | $48,790 | $78,430 | 100 | 0.08 | 3.57 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (25-1080), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Educational Instruction and Library 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 25-1082 Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary.
*- Wage 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. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- 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. A withheld or top-coded cell in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 25-1082, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 25-1082.00, 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.