The field of librarianship has a lot to offer. Outside of the routine and often unappreciated work that goes on behind the scenes, librarians have so much more to offer as a career than most think. Sure, working with books and other media can be tedious at times. But much of that is negated by the money you’ll make as a librarian. As an added bonus, your job doesn’t require much in the way of formal education and training beyond some high school courses or an associate’s degree in library sciences. This means you don’t need a four-year degree to get started in this career. Check out our list of the top-paying careers as a librarian and see if any might be right for you!

Information Science & Technology

Librarians are increasingly handling technical information as part of their duties. This can involve advising clients on the best way to use technology to fulfill their information needs, and training staff in the best practices of technology. It can also involve working in the library’s information technology department. Most job search websites list information science as a common profession for librarians. The job market for librarians with this degree is expected to grow 18 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is faster than average.

Library Associate

A lot of people think of the job of a librarian as sitting behind a desk, shelving books, and answering inquiries from the public. While these tasks certainly comprise a big part of a librarian’s job, there are many other responsibilities too. A job as a library associate will give you the chance to work with library researchers and other staff members as a general assistant. You may work in a small or large library, depending on the size of the staff and needs of the patrons. This could include working with vendors and other administrative tasks, helping patrons find their way around the library, responding to e-mail, helping manage resources, and other tasks.

Librarian (Special)

Special librarians can work as a variety of subjects. Biology, chemistry, physics, and other subjects related to science are common. Special librarians also work in the fields of law, business, and education. These positions are often closely related to research and grant writing. A special librarian works at the high school, college, or other level. This may mean you have some training, though most positions will require at least a bachelor’s degree to be competitive. A librarian may work closely with faculty, assisting in their research and grant writing. The job market for librarians with this degree is expected to grow at a modest pace from 2014 to 2024.

Library Administrator

Library administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of a library. This includes hiring staff, managing budgets, and overseeing services, among other responsibilities. Typically, you will need a master’s degree in library administration or a related field to obtain this position. Many administrators also have some experience in a related field before going into this position. The job market for librarians with this degree is expected to grow at a modest pace from 2014 to 2024.

Registered Database Administrator

While many people think of databases as computer-generated, the information in databases can be very human-generated. For example, a lot of business data is kept in databases. A registered database administrator (RDA) is responsible for the security and integrity of that data. An RDA must have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems. These professionals also must pass a certification exam. The job market for RDA is expected to grow at a rate that is much faster than average.

Mathematics Librarian

While librarians often work with books and other media, mathematicians work with numbers. These professionals often assist in research, data collection, and other tasks related to statistics and other mathematics. Some libraries have started to offer free computer classes, which may help attract the right candidates to this field. The job market for librarians in this field is expected to grow at a modest pace from 2014 to 2024.

Research Librarian

A research librarian typically assists with research on a variety of topics, from history to current events. Some of this research may be in books, but a lot may be done online. You may work with a variety of different types of clients—people conducting research on a variety of topics, or people who work in government or business. The job market for librarians in this field is expected to grow at a modest pace from 2014 to 2024.

Textile Librarian

A textile librarian helps patrons find books and other resources about textile history, art, and culture. These materials may be kept in a special section of the library or may be easily accessible to the public on a website. The job market for textile librarians is expected to grow at a modest pace from 2014 to 2024.

Conclusions

These are just a few of the many careers as a librarian. The field offers a wide range of possibilities, depending on your interests, education, and other factors. If you are interested in a career as a librarian, consider applying to a local library or a library school to find out more about the opportunities available to you.