Library clerks and assistants: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time library clerks and assistants in the UK earned a median £28,134 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 28% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (65th from the bottom).
Median full-time pay: women £28,133 a year, men £28,056 a year.
Most jobs here are part-time: 8,000 of about 21,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 31.9% (from £21,326), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 24,000 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | – | – | – | £95.40* | £12.90 |
| 20th percentile | £23,884 | £492.20 | £14.24 | £10,952* | £198.10* | £13.19 |
| 25th percentile | £24,214 | £509.80 | £14.45 | £12,615* | £245.60* | £13.39 |
| 30th percentile | £25,751 | £528.50 | £14.54 | £13,647* | £289.90 | £13.65 |
| 40th percentile | £26,402 | £538.30 | £15.07 | £16,885 | £331.40 | £14.24 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £28,134 | £550.80 | £15.40 | £18,659* | £372.50 | £14.69 |
| 60th percentile | £28,844 | £578.60 | £15.86 | £21,284* | £429.30 | £15.18 |
| 70th percentile | £29,752* | £608.30 | £16.63 | £24,085* | £489.30 | £15.71 |
| 75th percentile | – | £629.20* | £17.04* | £26,231* | £528.80 | £16.11 |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | £27,899* | £545.90 | £16.59 |
| Mean | £29,067 | £583.60 | £16.33 | £19,318 | £379.50 | £15.62 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £21,326 | £418.00 | £11.36 | £14,556 | £285.50 | 24 |
| 2022 revised | £21,512 | £431.70 | £12.04 | £15,818* | £308.30 | 18 |
| 2023 revised | £23,185 | £470.00 | £13.04 | £15,755* | £299.40* | 19 |
| 2024 revised | £26,468 | £516.90 | £14.38 | £17,323* | £328.70* | 19 |
| 2025 provisional | £28,134 | £550.80 | £15.40 | £18,659* | £372.50 | 21 |
Library clerks and assistants by region
UK: 24,000 (± 6,000), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What library clerks and assistants do
Library clerks and assistants classify, sort and file publications, documents, audio-visual and computerised material in libraries and offices. (ONS SOC 2020, 4135)
Also covers: archives assistant (library), information assistant (library), learning resource assistant, library assistant, library clerk, library supervisor, archive assistant, archives assistant, bibliographic assistant, book looker-out, chief assistant, clerical assistant, counter assistant, information assistant, library attendant, press clipper, shelving assistant and abstractor (press cuttings) (23 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Sorts, catalogues and maintains library records
- Locates and retrieves material on request for borrowers
- Issues library material and records date of issue/ due date for return
- Classifies, labels and indexes new books
- Performs simple repairs on old books
There are no minimum academic requirements, although entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades or A-levels/H grades. Training is usually provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Information and Library Services are available at levels 2 and 3.
Related
Administrative occupations: records (median £29,820) · Transport and distribution clerks and assistants · Human resources administrative occupations · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026