SOC 2471 Business, media and public service professionals

Librarians Salary

Salary data from ONS ASHE. Some figures may be unavailable due to small sample sizes.

For librarians, £38,068 is the typical (median) pay. That is around the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -2.0% versus the national average.

About this role

Librarians manage library collections, services and information resources, supporting learning, research and public access to knowledge. They catalogue materials, develop digital resources and deliver information literacy programmes.

Key responsibilities

Managing collections including acquisition and cataloguing
Providing reference and information services
Developing digital resources and literacy programmes
Managing staff, budgets and facilities
Promoting reading, learning and community engagement

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a CILIP-accredited postgraduate qualification in library and information science. Chartership (MCLIP) is the professional standard. A first degree in any subject is typical entry.

Career outlook

Public library roles have declined due to funding pressures. Academic and specialist roles remain stable. Digital and data management skills open new pathways.

Key skills

Information management Cataloguing Digital resources Customer service Collection development

Common industries

Public libraries
University libraries
School libraries
Specialist libraries
NHS libraries

Data coverage

SOC code 2471

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 13,000

Median Salary

N/A

Mean Salary

£33,237

Jobs (000s)

13k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +21.9%Real growth: -8.3%

Librarians salary: common questions

How much do librarians earn in the UK?

Librarians earn a median of £38,068 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £38,068 a good salary in the UK?

For librarians, £38,068 is the typical (median) pay. That is around the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -2.0% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for librarians?

Entry-level librarians typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £32,191, though this varies by employer and region.

Have librarians salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median librarians pay has risen from £26,084 to £38,068 — +46% in cash terms, or +6.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).