Salary progression Hospital librarian

Average salary 38 900 kr
Males 39 500 kr
Females 38 700 kr

What does a hospital librarian do? – Tasks and work environment

A hospital librarian provides information and literature to healthcare professionals, patients, and relatives within a hospital setting. Tasks include searching, organizing, and disseminating scientific articles, books, and digital resources related to medicine and nursing. It also involves guiding users in information retrieval, conducting database training, and managing the procurement and cataloging of literature. The work environment is often interdisciplinary and characterized by a high pace and close collaboration with healthcare staff, requiring both service-mindedness and integrity.

Salary development over time

The salary for a hospital librarian has shown a steady increase over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 35,200 SEK per month. In 2023, it increased to 37 600 SEK, which corresponds to about a 2.6% rise. In 2024, the average salary continued upward to 38 900 SEK, a further increase of 4.2% compared to the previous year. This salary trend reflects an increased demand for qualified librarians in the healthcare sector and a generally higher valuation of information management in healthcare. The trend indicates that expertise in digital information dissemination and specialized medical knowledge is becoming more valued, which could positively influence salaries in the future.

Hospital librarian salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 38 900 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,100 SEK/month (male, public sector, secondary education)
  • Highest salary: 42,500 SEK/month (female, public sector, postgraduate education)
  • Hourly wage: 226 SEK
  • Gender difference: Women earn 38 700 SEK, men earn 39 500 SEK (women 98% of men's salary)
  • Regional differences: No specific statistics available

Education and qualifications

To work as a hospital librarian, a university degree in library and information science is generally required, often supplemented with courses in medical information management. Practical experience from healthcare environments or research support roles can be advantageous, as well as advanced knowledge of digital databases and information retrieval.

  • Bachelor's degree in library and information science (3 years)
  • Further education in medical information management
  • Internship or trainee position at a hospital library
  • Courses in digital information retrieval and scientific communication
  • Experience working in healthcare environments is advantageous

Hospital librarians play a crucial role in supporting research and evidence-based care by quickly providing doctors and nurses with current medical information. This makes the profession an important link between research and clinical practice, often involving participation in interdisciplinary teams.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and allowances

Hospital librarians are often offered benefits such as wellness allowances, flexible working hours, and opportunities for professional development through courses and conferences. Pension contributions according to collective agreements and access to subsidized lunches or staff cafeterias within the hospital are also common.

Challenges and competition

The competition for hospital librarian positions can vary depending on the region and employer. Since the profession is part of the broader group of librarians and archivists, with approximately 620 available jobs, the job market is relatively good. However, there are reports of a paradoxical situation where there are both recruitment difficulties and some unemployment within the group. Challenges often include staying updated on new digital resources and quickly adapting to changing demands from the healthcare sector. Specialization in medical information management and experience from hospital environments can increase competitiveness.

Tips for aspiring hospital librarians

To succeed as a hospital librarian, it is beneficial to combine analytical skills with a genuine interest in medical information. Accuracy is crucial, as correct information management can directly impact patient outcomes. Being service-oriented and pedagogical helps in collaborating with healthcare staff and patients, especially when guiding in information retrieval. Technical curiosity and willingness to learn new digital tools are also valuable in this profession. Initiative is appreciated, as it is often necessary to drive the development of library services. Finally, integrity and good communication skills are highly valued, as the role sometimes involves handling sensitive or patient-related information.

Key facts about hospital librarians

  • Education level: Bachelor's degree in library and information science
  • Work environment: Hospital setting, often in interdisciplinary teams
  • Demand: Large opportunities for employment nationwide
  • Number of available jobs in the profession: 620
  • Special skills: Medical information management and digital databases

Career paths and future outlook

After three to five years in the profession, a hospital librarian can develop into specialist roles in medical information dissemination, research support, or leadership positions such as a librarian responsible for digital resources. Opportunities also exist to train healthcare staff or participate in research projects. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecasts for librarians and archivists, job prospects are good, and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years. The recruitment situation is characterized by a combination of high demand and some difficulties in finding the right skills, making further education and specialization important competitive advantages.

Frequently asked questions about hospital librarians

  • What is the average salary for a hospital librarian?
    - The average salary is 38 900 SEK per month.
  • What education is required to become a hospital librarian?
    - A bachelor's degree in library and information science, preferably supplemented with courses in medical information management.
  • Are there gender differences in salary?
    - Yes, women earn on average 38 700 SEK, while men earn 39 500 SEK (women 98% of men's salary).
  • What are the job prospects for the profession?
    - Job opportunities are considered plentiful, and demand is expected to remain unchanged over the next five years.
  • What career paths are available after a few years as a hospital librarian?
    - Specialist roles in medical information management, research support, or leadership positions within the library sector.
  • How large is the salary range?
    - The highest salary is 42,500 SEK, and the lowest is 31,100 SEK per month.
  • What characterizes the work environment?
    - Hospital librarians work in a cross-disciplinary environment with close contact with healthcare staff and patients.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Hospital librarian is 43800 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Public sector with a postgraduate education. The highest salary for a woman in this profession is 43700 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Hospital librarian is 29100 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Government sector. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 32100 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
25-34 98% 35600 kr 35900 kr
35-44 100% 38000 kr 38200 kr
45-54 97% 39800 kr 40000 kr
55-64 98% 39900 kr 40100 kr
65-68 39000 kr 39500 kr
Snitt 98% 38600 kr 38900 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Hospital librarian has the SSYK code 2622, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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