Career comparison
Library Science Professor vs. Library Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Library science professors earn more at the median ($80,340 vs. $44,580), while library technicians usually get to work faster (6 months–2 years of training). Library science professors train future librarians and information professionals. Library technicians help libraries run smoothly, from checkouts to cataloging.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Library Science Professor | Library Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $80,340 | $44,580 ($21.43/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $57,200 – $129,120 | $29,300 – $63,080 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.7% (about as fast as average) | -6.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 300 | 10,800 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 6–8 years after a bachelor’s | 6 months–2 years |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in library or information science | ALA Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) |
| Work setting | Faculty work in offices, classrooms and online, often remotely.. | Technicians work in public, school and academic libraries, at desks and among shelves.. |
What each job does
Library Science Professor
- Teach library science courses
- Supervise practicums
- Conduct research
- Develop online courses
- Mentor students
Library Technician
- Check materials in and out
- Help patrons find items and use computers
- Process and catalog new materials
- Shelve and organize collections
- Manage holds and interlibrary loans
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people and working with information. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose library science professor if…
- I love libraries and information
- I want to teach online
- I like research
Choose library technician if…
- I like organizing things
- I enjoy helping people
- I like libraries
Still torn? Take the Library Science Professor fit quiz and the Library Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, library science professor or library technician?
Library Science Professors earn more at the median: $80,340 versus $44,580 for library technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Library Technicians typically train faster (6 months–2 years) than library science professors (6–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects library science professors to grow +2.7% from 2025–35, compared with -6.4% for library technicians.