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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 Status 2019 (n=112)
Employed In LIS: 77.6% (87), Outside LIS: 15% (17)
Unemployed 7% (8)
TOTAL 100% (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 Status 2018 (n=60)
Employed In LIS: 88% (53), Outside LIS: 8% (5)
Unemployed 3% (2)
TOTAL 100% (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 Status 2017 (n=101)
Employed In LIS: 85% (86), Outside LIS: 12.8% (13)
98% (99)
Unemployed 1.9% (2)
TOTAL 100% (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 Status 2016 (n=94)
Employed In LIS: 69% (65), Outside LIS: 27.6% (26)
96.8% (91)
Unemployed 3% (3)
TOTAL 100% (94)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status 2016 (n=85)
Professional 80% (68)
Non-Professional 9% (8)
Outside of the field (Pro) 8% (7)
Outside of the field (Non-pro) 2% (2)
TOTAL 100% (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 Status 2015 (n=83)
Employed In LIS: 83% (69), Outside LIS: 12% (10)
95% (79)
Unemployed 4.8% (4)
TOTAL 100% (83)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status 2015 (n=72)
Professional 80% (58)
Non-Professional 13.8% (10)
Outside of the field (Pro) 4% (3)
Outside of the field (Non-pro) 1% (1)
TOTAL 100% (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 Status 2014 (n=130)
Employed In LIS: 81% (106), Outside LIS: 11% (15)
93% (121)
Unemployed 6% (9)
TOTAL 100% (130)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status 2014 (n=121)
Professional 72% (88)
Non-Professional 14% (18)
Outside of the field (Pro) 11% (14)
Outside of the field (Non-pro) .8% (1)
TOTAL 100% (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 Status 2013 (n=194)
Employed In LIS: 76% (149), Outside LIS: 12% (24)
89% (173)
Unemployed 10% (21)
TOTAL 100% (194)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status 2013 (n=173)
Professional 60% (104)
Non-Professional 26% (45)
Outside of the field (Pro) 9% (17)
Outside of the field (Non-pro) 4% (7)
TOTAL 100%

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 Status 2012 (n=199)
Employed In LIS: 74% (148), Outside LIS: 19% (37)
93% (185)
Unemployed 7% (14)
TOTAL 100% (199)

Professional or Non-Professional Status:

Position Status 2012 (n=171)
Professional 73% (125)
Non-Professional 20% (35)
Outside of the field (Pro) 4% (6)
Outside of the field (Non-pro) 3% (5)
TOTAL 100%