🏫
Public K-12 Education
Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other
This role keeps schools, colleges, and libraries running by helping people find materials, use equipment, and get basic support for classes or research. The work stands out because it mixes people-facing service with behind-the-scenes organization and recordkeeping. The main tradeoff is that the job is steady and varied, but the pay is modest and the work is often limited by budgets, staffing levels, and self-service technology.
Also known as Library AssistantLibrary Services AssociateInstructional Support AssistantLearning Resources AssistantEducational Support Specialist
Median Salary
$48,400
Mean $55,700
U.S. Workforce
~115K
12.5K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.5%
132K to 134K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~115K workers, with a median annual pay of $48,400 and roughly 12.5K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 132 K in 2024 to 134K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in education, library science, humanities, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Library Aide and can progress toward Program Coordinator or Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Library Catalogs, Circulation Systems & Integrated Library Systems, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office & Scheduling Tools, and Canvas, Google Classroom & Learning Management Systems, paired with soft skills such as Patience, Clear communication, and Organization.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students, teachers, and patrons find books, articles, and other learning materials they need.
- Check items in and out, shelve returned materials, and keep collections organized so they are easy to use.
- Set up and troubleshoot everyday equipment such as computers, printers, projectors, and tablets.
- Prepare handouts, reading lists, displays, and other materials for classes, workshops, or library programs.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students, teachers, and patrons find books, articles, and other learning materials they need.
02 Check items in and out, shelve returned materials, and keep collections organized so they are easy to use.
03 Set up and troubleshoot everyday equipment such as computers, printers, projectors, and tablets.
04 Prepare handouts, reading lists, displays, and other materials for classes, workshops, or library programs.
05 Keep track of simple records like attendance, overdue items, reservations, and supply inventories.
06 Answer routine questions, explain basic rules and procedures, and refer more complex problems to a librarian, teacher, or supervisor.
Industries That Hire
🎓
Higher Education
Harvard University, University of Michigan, Arizona State University
📚
Public Libraries
New York Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, King County Library System
🏛️
Museums and Cultural Institutions
Smithsonian Institution, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Field Museum
💼
Corporate Learning and Training
IBM, Microsoft, Amazon
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
You can enter the field with a bachelor's degree and no required work experience or on-the-job training.
+
There are still about 12.5K annual openings, so people do move in and out of these roles regularly.
+
The work is varied: one day may involve helping a person find resources, and the next may involve setting up equipment or organizing materials.
+
The job can exist in schools, colleges, and public libraries, which gives you several work settings to choose from.
+
The mean annual pay is $55.7K, which is better than the median $48.4K and leaves room to move into higher-paid coordinator or supervisor roles.
Challenges
-
The pay is not especially high for a role that often expects a bachelor's degree; the median is only $48.4K a year.
-
Growth is very slow at just 1.5% projected through 2034, so this is not a field with a lot of expansion.
-
A lot of the work depends on school, library, or public budgets, so staffing can tighten quickly when funding gets cut.
-
Self-service systems and digital tools can replace some routine circulation and lookup work, which limits how much the role can grow on the job.
-
There is a real career ceiling in many settings unless you add another credential or move into supervision, coordination, or a different profession.
Career Progression
Library Aide
0-2 years
$29K-$36K
Handles shelving, basic checkouts, simple filing, and day-to-day front-desk help under close supervision.
Educational Support Assistant
2-5 years
$37K-$47K
Works more independently, helps with resource requests, prepares materials, and supports routine classroom or library operations.
Educational Instruction and Library Worker THIS ROLE
5-9 years
$48K-$60K
Takes on a full mix of patron support, equipment setup, records tracking, and program preparation across a school or library setting.
Senior Library or Instructional Specialist
9-14 years
$61K-$75K
Handles harder requests, trains newer staff, manages procedures, and helps improve how the space or service runs.
Program Coordinator or Supervisor
12+ years
$76K-$92K
Oversees schedules, staffing, budgets, and service goals while making sure the library or instructional support area meets local needs.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in education, library science, humanities, or a related field
This is the typical entry point for the role, and BLS lists no work experience or on-the-job training as required.
Associate degree in library technology, education support, or a related field
This can work for assistant-level jobs, especially in schools or public libraries, but advancement is usually slower.
Postsecondary certificate or library aide credential
This is a practical alternative for support roles where hands-on service and local experience matter more than a full degree.
Bachelor's degree plus internship, practicum, or student work experience
This path is especially useful if you want to move into a specific setting such as a school library, college resource center, or public library.
Key Skills
Technical
Library Catalogs, Circulation Systems & Integrated Library Systems 88%
Google Workspace, Microsoft Office & Scheduling Tools 82%
Canvas, Google Classroom & Learning Management Systems 78%
Digital Databases, Research Tools & Search Strategies 76%
Student Information Systems & Records Databases 73%
Audio-Visual Equipment, Printers & Classroom Technology 68%
Soft Skills
PatienceClear communicationOrganizationAdaptabilityCustomer serviceProblem solving Job Outlook and Trends
+1.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
12.5K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 132K to 134 K over the next decade, representing 1.5% growth. Around 12.5 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.