SOC 4135 Administrative occupations

Library clerks and assistants Salary

Median salary £18,659 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £19,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For library clerks and assistants, £28,134 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -28% versus the national average. Experienced library clerks and assistants (top 25%) earn over £26,231.

About this role

Library clerks and assistants support library operations by issuing and returning books, shelving stock, assisting library users, processing reservations and maintaining library systems and displays.

Key responsibilities

Issuing and returning library materials
Shelving stock and maintaining library displays
Assisting users with enquiries and catalogue searches
Processing reservations, inter-library loans and memberships
Supporting library events and reading groups

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications required. Libraries typically provide on-the-job training. NVQ in Information and Library Services provides a progression route. IT skills and customer service ability are essential.

Career outlook

Public library roles face funding pressures. Digital literacy support and community engagement are expanding the role beyond traditional library duties.

Key skills

Customer service IT skills Organisation Communication Attention to detail

Common industries

Public libraries
School libraries
University libraries
Hospital libraries
Prison libraries

Data coverage

SOC code 4135

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 18,000

Median Salary

£18,659

Mean Salary

£19,318

Jobs (000s)

18k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £12,615Median: £18,659P75: £26,231

P10: --P25: £13kMedian: £19kP75: £26kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£12,615

0-2 years

Mid Level

£12,615

3-7 years

Senior

£26,231

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +108% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +61.8%Real growth: +17.2%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£18,659

Full-time Only

£28,134

Full-time premium: +£9,475

Library clerks and assistants salary: common questions

How much do library clerks and assistants earn in the UK?

Library clerks and assistants earn a median of £28,134 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £12,615 and £26,231.

Is £28,134 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for library clerks and assistants?

Entry-level library clerks and assistants typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £12,615, though this varies by employer and region.

Have library clerks and assistants salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median library clerks and assistants pay has risen from £19,170 to £28,134 — +47% 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).