Research Librarian

Career Guide

A Research Librarian helps people find, evaluate, and use information effectively. They support students, faculty, researchers, and the public by teaching research skills, curating reliable resources, and improving access to collections and services.

Browse All Roles

Key Responsibilities

Conduct reference and research consultations
Teach research skills through workshops and classes
Create research guides and learning materials
Develop and manage library collections
Negotiate and manage resource licenses
Support literature searches and systematic reviews
Promote information literacy and source evaluation
Partner with faculty and departments on research needs
Maintain discovery tools and resource access
Track usage data to improve services
Support citation management and research workflows
Provide support for open access publishing
Advise on research impact and visibility
Ensure equitable access and inclusive services

Top Skills for Success

Reference Interviewing

Information Literacy Instruction

Database Searching

Collection Development

Scholarly Communication

Metadata Basics

Research Consultation

Literature Review Support

Systematic Review Methods

User Needs Assessment

Stakeholder Management

Written Communication

Presentation Skills

Data Fluency

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Research Librarian

Subject Librarian

Instruction Librarian

Scholarly Communications Librarian

Digital Scholarship Librarian

Collection Development Librarian

Access Services Manager

Transition Opportunities

Knowledge Manager

Information Specialist

Research Analyst

Competitive Intelligence Analyst

User Researcher

Records Manager

Content Strategist

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Systematic Review MethodsData Management SupportOpen Access Publishing KnowledgeLicensing NegotiationLearning DesignAssessment and Outcomes MeasurementDiscovery System Administration

Development SuggestionsBuild one deep specialty that matches your environment, such as systematic reviews, instruction, or scholarly communications. Pair it with strong teaching materials, a portfolio of guides, and evidence of impact using clear service metrics.

Market Intelligence Report

Research Librarian is part of the Data Governance category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 45,000 to 60,000

Mid LevelUSD 60,000 to 80,000

Senior LevelUSD 80,000 to 110,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand in universities and large public systems, with increased hiring tied to digital services, data support, and instruction. Competition can be higher for research focused institutions and specialty subject roles.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Universities and collegesPublic library systemsGovernment librariesHospital and health system librariesLaw librariesCorporate research librariesNonprofit research institutes

Industry Sectors

Higher educationPublic sectorHealthcareLegal servicesCorporate servicesNonprofit

Recommended Next Steps

Review job postings in your target library type and note recurring requirements

Create a small portfolio that includes a research guide, a lesson plan, and a search strategy example

Strengthen database searching with advanced query techniques and controlled vocabulary

Practice instructional delivery by leading a short workshop or guest session

Learn core scholarly communications topics including open access and author rights

Get hands on experience with citation management tools and research workflow support

Track outcomes for your work using simple measures such as attendance, feedback, and usage

Join professional groups and attend local meetups to build connections and learn current practices