How much does a library professor make?
Answer: A typical library professor in the United States makes $80,340 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 4,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Library professor pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $57,200 | $80,340 | $129,120 | about 4,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience and education, the state or city, and whether someone works at a university or community college. Full-time or part-time work can also change total earnings.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a library professor do?
Teach courses in library science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What's a typical day like?
They prepare lessons, then teach topics such as organizing collections, archives, or indexes. They hold office hours, guide student research or internships, and may develop online classes.
How to get this job
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s, then pursue graduate study in library and information science; a master’s may qualify for some jobs, while four-year universities often expect a Ph.D. Gain teaching experience, perhaps as a graduate assistant.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like helping and teaching and figuring things out.
Did you know?
Some library professors teach students how to organize archives and make indexes—not just how to find books.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Educational Instruction and Library jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1082.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/print/wage-differences.htm
- www.ala.org/educationcareers/accreditedprograms
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY