Library and Archives Assisting: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 1 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Library and Archives Assisting pays
Career outlook for Library and Archives Assisting graduates
The job market for the occupations Library and Archives Assisting graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Library technicians | 78,600 | -6.8% | $39,970 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Library and Archives Assisting vs similar majors
How Library and Archives Assisting stacks up against the closest fields in Library Science on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Library and Archives Assisting Library Science · this major | Library Science, Other | Library Science and Administration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 12 F | 44 D | 33 F |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Strong return | Break-even |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $26,675 | $62,833 | $58,299 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | — | $50,797 | $49,094 |
| ROI vs cost | -355% | +109% | +56% |
| Typical debt | — | $37,160 | $37,049 |
| Colleges offering it | 1 | 2 | 58 |
Best colleges for Library and Archives Assisting
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN | Certificate | $26,675 | — | -2,625% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.