by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Library & Archives Assisting explores Library And Archives Assisting. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist Professional Librarians And Archivists. Includes Instruction In Principles, Systems, Processes, And Procedures Of Library And Archive Operation; Library Resources And Services; Processes Of Acquisition, Cataloging, Storage, And Display Systems; Discovery And Retrieval Of Requested Materials; And Management Of Books, Periodicals, And Other Documents And Records. Examples: [Library Assistant], [Library Technician], [Archives Assistant], [Archives Technician]. Read on to learn the essential details every library & archives assisting major 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 draws strong interest, 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.
Skills emphasized 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% |
View 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 numerous career paths. These 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
