Overview

• An anonymous X post stating a librarian earns £55,000 went viral on Oct 20, drawing roughly 34.7 million views.
• Coverage from UK outlets outlined typical ranges: entry roles around £25,000, experienced staff £40,000+, and senior posts averaging about £40,767 with some reaching £81,000.
• Head of library services roles were cited with average pay near £66,000 and potential to around £100,000 depending on the institution and responsibility level.
• Online reaction was split between claims that £55,000 undervalues the role and surprise that librarian pay can reach that level.
• Articles stressed that higher salaries generally apply to qualified librarians, who typically hold a bachelor’s plus a Master’s in library or information science or a CILIP‑recognised equivalent.