In a library, publishing operation, or large records archive, you catalogue materials — items, publications, recordings, or documents — applying classification standards, creating database entries, and the careful indexing work that makes future retrieval possible.
Most days revolve around the items-to-be-cataloged shelf and the classification system — receiving new acquisitions, looking up bibliographic records (often through OCLC or sector-specific authorities), entering or editing catalog records, applying subject headings, working through the steady cadence of original cataloging when no record exists.
The harder part is often the judgment calls that classification requires — every item has aspects that complicate clean categorization, and accurate metadata depends on the cataloger's call. Variance across employers is wide: large academic and research libraries run with formal cataloging departments and MARC discipline; corporate libraries, museums, and specialized archives may use proprietary or hybrid schemes.
The role tends to fit folks who enjoy structured detail work, find pleasure in the careful documentation of materials, and have patience for the slow visible payoff of well-catalogued collections. MLS, ALA, or sector-specific credentials anchor advancement. The trade-off is modest pay typical of library and archival roles balanced against meaningful preservation work.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
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View all Admin & Office roles →In a library, publishing operation, or large records archive, you catalogue materials — items, publications, recordings, or documents — applying classification standards, creating database entries, and the careful indexing work that makes future retrieval possible.
Median pay for a Catalogue Clerk is about $45K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $34K to $62K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, and Monitoring.
Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 17.2% through 2034, with roughly 83,420 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Order Clerk, Warehouse Clerk, and Hub Associate.
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