Law Librarianship by the Numbers 2014
SALARY
In 2013, the median salary for a law librarian with up to five years of experience ranged from $48,000 to
$65,000, according to AALL’s 2013 salary survey. In the same survey, median salaries for law library directors
ranged from $83,000 to $159,000. The following table provides more detailed salary information by library type
and position.
Library Type
Position
Mean
10%
Academic
Academic
Research/Reference
Computer/Electronic
Services
Technical Services
Solo Librarian
Research/Reference
Competitive
Intelligence
Analyst/Librarian
Computer/Electronic
Services/Intranet
Manager
Technical Services
Solo Librarian
$66,529
$69,080
Academic
Firm Corporate
Firm/Corporate
Firm/Corporate
Firm/Corporate
Firm/Corporate
State, Court & County
Law Libraries
State, Court & County
Law Libraries
State, Court & County
Law Libraries
State, Court & County
Law Libraries
90%
$51,902
$49,984
Median –
50%
$64,185
$66,136
$63,024
$81,016
$76,977
$80,981
$44,763
$53,500
$54,629
$46,667
$60,224
$75,000
$75,200
$80,000
$82,751
$125,000
$97,275
$125,000
$74,400
$45,297
$74,650
$100,407
$64,976
$66,663
$45,750
$37,754
$65,000
$67,716
$88,742
$112,944
Research/Reference
$52,845
$36,541
$48,888
$74,396
Computer/Electronic
Services
Technical Services
$58,182
$45,600
$55,000
$73,991
$56,668
N/A
$54,300
N/A
$86,570
$98,435
Source: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/salary-survey/pub-salary13.html (accessed Feb 2014)
LIBRARY SCHOOLS


ALA-Accredited Graduate Programs in Library Science http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/
ALA-Accredited Graduate Programs in Library Science with Law Library Classes or Joint MLS/JD Classes
http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Careers/lawlibrarycareers/Education-Requirements/state.html
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is a government program that provides federal
grants to U.S. libraries and museums. In 2013, the program awarded $14.6 Million in federal grants to
U.S. libraries. It also provides monetary support to library school students via the Laura Bush 21st
Century Librarian Program.
More information at: http://www.imls.gov

AALL offers several scholarships. All deadlines are April 1st.
More information at: http://www.aallnet.org/services/scholarships.asp

Local AALL chapters often offer scholarships and grants. A list of all 31 chapters and links to their Web
sites is accessible at: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Member-Communities/chapters
JOB OUTLOOK

Growth and Replacement
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of librarians is projected to grow 7 percent
from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. However, according to an AALL 2009
report, the number of retirements between 2005-2015 is projected to almost double, to 28,200 for the
decade. This should result in additional job openings.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15
Edition, Librarians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-andlibrary/librarians.htm (visited January 24, 2014).
Planning for 2015: The Recent History and Future Supply of Librarians (June 2009) on the Internet at:
http://www.ala.org/research/sites/ala.org.research/files/content/librarystaffstats/recruitment/Libraria
ns_supply_demog_analys.pdf (visited January 26, 2014)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, the number of employed U.S. law librarians is
expected to remain constant between 2012 and 2022.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment projections, compiled Dec 2013, on the Internet at:
http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_108.htm
DIVERSITY
In the 2005 AALL Salary Survey, 14.7% of law librarians fell into various ethnic minority categories. In
2009, 17.7% of those receiving library and information science degrees nationwide were minorities.
Source: Thurston, Alyssa, “Addressing the “Emerging Majority”: Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Law
Librarianship in the Twenty-First Century”, LAW LIBRARY JOURNAL Vol. 104:3 [2012-27] on the Internet
at: http://www.aallnet.org/main-menu/Publications/llj/LLJ-Archives/vol-104/no-3/2012-27.pdf
(accessed Jan 26, 2014)
This information sheet was updated February 2014 by Betsy Chessler, MLS and Sarah Montgomery, MLS.