Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Educational instruction and library workers, all other, form a broad category of education professionals with a national employment level of 132,000. The role sits within the education and library space and typically requires a bachelor’s degree, making it accessible to college graduates who are interested in supporting learning and information services. A national median annual salary of $48,400 reflects solid earning potential, with some states and metro areas offering notably higher pay. Projected employment growth of 1.5% and 12,000 annual openings suggest a steady flow of opportunities over time. The career draws on a wide mix of strengths, including interpersonal skills, creativity and innovation, adaptability, project management, and strong communication abilities. For people considering related paths, similar occupations include various kinds of teachers and instructors. Overall, this field can appeal to individuals who want to work in educational or library environments and are ready to build a versatile skill set supported by a bachelor’s degree.
The national median annual salary for educational instruction and library workers, all other, is $48,400, but pay varies considerably by location. Several states offer higher median salaries, including California at $64,100, Massachusetts at $62,630, Washington at $58,500, and New York at $52,000. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $79,270, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $75,420 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $69,340. These figures show that certain regions, particularly selected metros in California and Massachusetts, provide significantly higher earning potential than the national median. Job seekers who are flexible about where they live may find that relocating to one of these higher-paying states or metros can increase their potential compensation within this occupation.
Educational instruction and library workers, all other, have national employment of 132,000 and projected employment growth of 1.5%. This same 1.5% growth rate appears across the listed top states and metro areas, indicating a consistent projection in the data provided. With an estimated 12,000 annual openings, there is an ongoing pipeline of positions, which can include new roles as well as replacement needs. The combination of positive projected growth and a substantial number of openings suggests continuing demand for this occupation over time. People considering this path can use both the growth rate and annual openings to gauge how frequently new opportunities may arise. While the data does not break down openings by region, the presence of large employment numbers in some states and metros signals that many of these future opportunities may cluster where employment is already concentrated.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for educational instruction and library workers, all other. Among states, California has the highest employment at 39,440 and a median salary of $64,100, along with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York show smaller employment bases—960 and 1,060 respectively—but still offer relatively high opportunity scores above 65 and median salaries of $62,630 and $52,000. Colorado and Washington combine moderate employment with solid salaries, both above $58,000, and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead with opportunity scores above 77. San Jose also lists a median salary of $79,270, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $75,420 with the largest metro employment (5,740) among those listed. These differences show that both opportunity scores and pay can vary substantially across regions.
For educational instruction and library workers, all other, the typical education requirement is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the broad mix of skills associated with the occupation. Strong interpersonal and speaking and listening skills are important for working with others and communicating clearly. Creativity and innovation, along with adaptability, help professionals respond to varied educational or library-related situations. Project management skills can support planning and coordinating activities or initiatives. Writing and reading skills align with the information-focused nature of this career, while mathematics and science knowledge add analytical and subject-matter depth where needed. Customer service skills support interactions with students, patrons, or other stakeholders, and physical strength and stamina may be valuable in more active or physically demanding environments. Together, a bachelor’s degree and this diverse skill set form the core preparation for pursuing roles in this occupation.
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