by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 26 U.S. colleges awarded 540 degrees and certificates in Library & Archives Assisting. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Library & Archives Assisting Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $31,514 one year after completing, rising to $34,202 after four years.
A 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].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., library & archives assisting draws strong interest, with 540 degrees awarded annually. 26 colleges award library & archives assisting degrees, an average of 21 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 65.
By level, the 540 awards include 25 certificates, 180 associate degrees and 321 master’s degrees.
Women earned 80% of library & archives assisting degrees and certificates in the latest year (433 of 540). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (254) and Hispanic or Latino (168), and international students earned 3.
College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Library & Archives Assisting Schools ranking, including 11 for associate degrees. It also ranks library & archives assisting schools within 1 state. In all, 26 colleges offer library & archives assisting programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Library & Archives Assisting Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common library & archives assisting credential is the master’s degree: 321 of the 540 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to library & archives assisting call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Administrative, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Speech Recognition.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a library & archives assisting degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 180 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 321 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to library & archives assisting, at 29.6%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Library & Archives Assisting, with an average median salary of $37,590. Typical job titles include Media Center Specialist, Library Page, Accessioner and Elementary Library Media Specialist.
The occupation related to library & archives assisting with the most projected jobs is Library Technicians, at 663,965.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Library Technicians | 663,965 | -2.6% |
Library & Archives Assisting graduates earn a median $31,514 one year after completing their program, $34,202 after four years and $26,675 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,514 |
| 4 years | $34,202 |
| 5 years | $26,675 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to library & archives assisting, with a median salary of $37,590.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Library Technicians | $37,590 |
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