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Library Journal Employment Survey - SLIS data

SLIS distributes the Library Journal's "Placements and Salaries" Survey to graduates of the LIS master's of science program on a rolling basis as each class — January, May, and August — completes the program. The survey is posted online via surveymonkey.com, and a link to the survey is emailed to graduates within three months of graduation. Follow up emails are sent approximately every three months to those who do not respond. The survey is anonymous. The final data is submitted to Library Journal in August, for inclusion in their annual article about LIS job placement, published in October. The results below reflect only those respondents who reported employment within the first year after graduation.

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2022 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2022 Graduates: 295
  • Surveys sent: 287
  • Survey response: 22% (63)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status (n=63) 
EmployedIn LIS: 90% (57)     Outside LIS: 5% (3)
Unemployed5% (3)
TOTAL100% (3)


Library Journal articles:

SLIS opted to add specifications of "Professional" and "Non-professional" for employment outside of the LIS field, as reflected in the tables below. This additional question could not be included in the 2017 survey.

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2021 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2021 Graduates: 265
  • Surveys sent: 254
  • Survey response: 32% (81)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2021 (n=78)
EmployedIn LIS: 66% (52), Outside LIS: 31% (24)
Unemployed3% (2)
TOTAL100% (78)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2020 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2020 Graduates: 301
  • Surveys sent: 265
  • Survey response: 30% (80)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field

Employment Status2020 (n=80)
EmployedIn LIS: 77.5% (62), Outside LIS: 17.5% (14)
Unemployed5% (4)
TOTAL100% (80)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2019 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2019 Graduates: 301
  • Surveys sent: 292
  • Survey response: 38% (112)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2019 (n=112)
EmployedIn LIS: 77.6% (87), Outside LIS: 15% (17)
Unemployed7% (8)
TOTAL100% (112)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2018 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2018 Graduates: 287
  • Surveys sent: 257
  • Survey response: 24% (60)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2018 (n=60)
EmployedIn LIS: 88% (53), Outside LIS: 8% (5)
Unemployed3% (2)
TOTAL100% (60)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2017 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2017 Graduates: 270
  • Surveys sent: 240
  • Survey response: 47% (113)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2017 (n=101)
EmployedIn LIS: 85% (86), Outside LIS: 12.8% (13)
98% (99)
Unemployed1.9% (2)
TOTAL100% (101)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2016 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2016 Graduates: 289
  • Surveys sent: 227
  • Survey response: 55.9% (127)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2016 (n=94)
EmployedIn LIS: 69% (65), Outside LIS: 27.6% (26)
96.8% (91)
Unemployed3% (3)
TOTAL100% (94)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status2016 (n=85)
Professional80% (68)
Non-Professional9% (8)
Outside of the field (Pro)8% (7)
Outside of the field (Non-pro)2% (2)
TOTAL100% (85)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2015 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2015 Graduates: 256
  • Surveys sent: 177
  • Survey response: 46.8% (83)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2015 (n=83)
EmployedIn LIS: 83% (69), Outside LIS: 12% (10)
95% (79)
Unemployed4.8% (4)
TOTAL100% (83)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status2015 (n=72)
Professional80% (58)
Non-Professional13.8% (10)
Outside of the field (Pro)4% (3)
Outside of the field (Non-pro)1% (1)
TOTAL100% (72)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2014 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2014 Graduates: 254
  • Survey response: 51% (130)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2014 (n=130)
EmployedIn LIS: 81% (106), Outside LIS: 11% (15)
93% (121)
Unemployed6% (9)
TOTAL100% (130)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status2014 (n=121)
Professional72% (88)
Non-Professional14% (18)
Outside of the field (Pro)11% (14)
Outside of the field (Non-pro).8% (1)
TOTAL100% (121)

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2013 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2013 Graduates: 275
  • Survey response: 71% (197)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2013 (n=194)
EmployedIn LIS: 76% (149), Outside LIS: 12% (24)
89% (173)
Unemployed10% (21)
TOTAL100% (194)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status2013 (n=173)
Professional60% (104)
Non-Professional26% (45)
Outside of the field (Pro)9% (17)
Outside of the field (Non-pro)4% (7)
TOTAL100%

Overall Survey Response Rate, 2012 Salary and Placement Survey:

  • Total 2012 Graduates: 325
  • Survey response: 64% (208)

Employment Status In and Outside of the Library/Information Science Field:

Employment Status2012 (n=199)
EmployedIn LIS: 74% (148), Outside LIS: 19% (37)
93% (185)
Unemployed7% (14)
TOTAL100% (199)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status2012 (n=171)
Professional73% (125)
Non-Professional20% (35)
Outside of the field (Pro)4% (6)
Outside of the field (Non-pro)3% (5)
TOTAL100%