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.
Library & Archives Assisting was the 324th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 467 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 22.3% increase in archives degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 363.
This year's Best Library & Archives Assisting Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom archives rankings further below.
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.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most archives degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific archives careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different archives degree levels. Library & Archives Assisting programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest archives degree you can get. The time it takes to complete a archives degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to archives, with approximately 29.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to archives tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 29.6% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 27.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 17.1% |
| High School Diploma | 15.0% |
| Some College Courses | 8.9% |
About 59.1% of workers in careers related to archives obtain at least associate degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in library and archives assisting have received.
The education level required is different depending on the archives career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your archives degree? Library & Archives Assisting careers are expected to grow 9.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to library and archives assisting.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technicians | 108,200 | 9.1% |
Recently graduated library and archives assisting students earned an average of $20,636 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $20,636 to as high as $20,636. As you might expect, salaries for archives graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for library and archives assisting graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers archives grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Library Technicians | $36,080 |
With over 67 different archives degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased archives school rankings to help you with this.
Library & Archives Assisting is one of 2 different types of Library Science programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Library & Information Science | 5,950 |
| Other Library & Archives Assisting | 121 |
