Library Assistants, Clerical Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations · 86K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$36,910
Median hourly
$18
Average annual
$39,370
Typical range
$27,730–$55,310
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Library Assistants, Clerical is $36,910 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $18 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title.
Most earn between $27,730 and $55,310 a year. There are roughly 86K people employed as library assistants, clerical in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Library Assistants, Clerical.
- Hourly
- $17.75
- Daily
- $142
- Weekly
- $710
- Bi-weekly
- $1,420
- Monthly
- $3,076
- Annual
- $36,910
$36,910 a year is around the 50th percentile for Library Assistants, Clericals. The median is $36,910.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$59,390
- 2California$47,860
- 3Washington$47,540
- 4Nevada$46,620
- 5Maryland$45,910
- 6Alaska$44,800
- 7Massachusetts$42,520
- 8Oregon$42,270
- 9Minnesota$39,970
- 10New Jersey$39,780
- 11Wisconsin$39,610
- 12Connecticut$39,100
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$63,000
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$62,780
- 3Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$54,590
- 4Kennewick-Richland, WA$51,460
- 5Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$51,410
- 6San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$50,940
- 7Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$50,560
- 8Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA$50,180
- 9Anchorage, AK$50,000
- 10Hanford-Corcoran, CA$49,000
- 11Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$48,890
- 12Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$48,470
Related job titles
Employers advertise Library Assistants, Clerical roles under these titles.
- Access Services Assistant
- Acquisitions Assistant
- Administrative Library Assistant
- Book Sorter
- Bookmobile Driver
- Braille and Talking Books Clerk
- Catalog Library Assistant
- Cataloging Assistant
- Children's Library Assistant
- Circulation Assistant
- Circulation Representative
- Film Library Clerk
- Interlibrary Loan Specialist
- Librarian Assistant
- Library Aide
- Library Assistant
Related occupations
- Library Technicians$44,580
- File Clerks$43,600
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Computer Occupations, All Other$116,580
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,010
- Correspondence Clerks$46,800
What a Library Assistants, Clerical does
- Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.
- Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.
- Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems.
- Maintain records of items received, stored, issued, and returned and file catalog cards according to system used.
- Register new patrons and issue borrower identification cards that permit patrons to borrow books and other materials.
- Sort books, publications, and other items according to established procedure and return them to shelves, files, or other designated storage areas.
- Locate library materials for patrons, including books, periodicals, tape cassettes, Braille volumes, and pictures.
- Enter and update patrons' records on computers.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Library Assistants, Clerical make?
- The median annual wage for Library Assistants, Clerical is $36,910 ($18 per hour). Pay ranges from about $27,730 at the 10th percentile to $55,310 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Library Assistants, Clerical?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $39,370, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Library Assistants, Clericals the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $59,390.
- Is Library Assistants, Clerical a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 86K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Library Assistants, Clerical do?
- Manage reserve materials by placing items on reserve for library patrons, checking items in and out of library, and removing out-of-date items.; Lend, reserve, and collect books, periodicals, videotapes, and other materials at circulation desks and process materials for inter-library loans.; Instruct patrons on how to use reference sources, card catalogs, and automated information systems..