by our College Data Analytics TeamLibrary and Archives assistants are a critical part of the library and archival system. They assist professional librarians and archivists in the day to day duties of operating a library or archive. Library assistants may be responsible for stocking shelves, offering instruction on various library services, assisting patrons and managing library assets such as books and periodicals.
Archival assistants will help with the preparation, cataloging, and storage of archive materials. They may be working with unique and valuable documents like first edition books, historical records or other meaningful works of art alongside professional archivists.
While professional librarians often need a master's degree in library science, assistants can often have a less formal education. An education in teaching can help you become a full-fledged librarian while any other related degree can help if you'll be happy as an assistant.
Similar to librarians, archivists often need master's degrees in their related fields. Assistants can likewise get by with fewer years of education although a bachelor's degree will be desired. Courses in the humanities and liberal arts are beneficial to both positions as degrees in these programs can help you think creatively and objectively.
A degree in Library & Archives Assisting involves the study of Library And Archives Assisting. Continue reading for the key facts every library & archives assisting student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering library & archives assisting programs.
In the U.S., library & archives assisting is a widely-pursued major, with 465 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Library & Archives Assisting Schools ranking analyzes these 27 schools to determine the best overall colleges for library & archives assisting students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of library & archives assisting programs later in this article.
Studies in Library & Archives Assisting emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations library & archives assisting graduates commonly enter.
Librarians and archivists have similar sets of required overlapping skills such as attention to detail and communication. Library assistants will need to have excellent verbal and interpersonal skills as helping patrons is a large part of their responsibilities.
Skills built by a library & archives assisting program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a library & archives assisting major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several library & archives assisting degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 26 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 161 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 253 |
People currently working in careers related to library & archives assisting tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 27.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 17.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 15.0% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Master’s degree | 1.8% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in library & archives assisting careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in library & archives assisting prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to library & archives assisting.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to library & archives assisting.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technicians | 663,965 | -2.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of library & archives assisting graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,514 |
| 4 years | $21,685 |
| 5 years | $26,675 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for library & archives assisting graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers library & archives assisting grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Library Technicians | $37,590 |
With 27 different library & archives assisting programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased library & archives assisting school rankings to help you.
Students interested in library & archives assisting, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Library and Archives Assisting | 465 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Library Science and Administration | 6,432 |
| Library Science, Other | 145 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
