Librarian / Information Specialist
Also known as: Librarian, Information Scientist
Curate information resources, help people research, and manage knowledge systems in the digital age.
Salary Range
The highest-paid specialization or seniority level for librarian / information specialists.
About 1 in 667 reaches this level
Of ~142K librarians, Dean of Libraries at $180K exists at ~300 major universities; that's roughly 1 in 700.
Salary data based on 2025 BLS, Glassdoor, and industry reports. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
How to Become One
This career typically requires a master's degree. Here are the top colleges for it:
AI Risk Assessment
The core reference and research function is being disrupted by AI search tools and LLMs — 42% of librarians already say AI will automate routine tasks. Counter-intuitively, AI also creates new demand: the emerging "AI Librarian" role manages AI-related data and resources, and AI Literacy Specialists develop frameworks to evaluate AI-generated content. But BLS projects only 2% growth 2024-2034 (slower than average), suggesting the new roles aren't fully offsetting the automation of traditional ones.
Ratings reflect a 10-year outlook based on 2025-2026 research, weighted toward entry-level impact. Individual outcomes will vary.
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