Booksellers buy and sell books. Some specialise in selling second hand or antique books, or in particular subjects such as music, scientific or children's books.

The Work

You could be:

• meeting publishers and wholesalers to view catalogues, new books and to negotiate terms
• buying in new stock and checking existing stock levels
• working closely with local colleges and universities to make sure your stock meets student demands
• helping customers choose books, checking if and where they are in stock and placing orders
• stocking shelves and creating window and store displays
• repairing second hand books and deciding a price for them
• setting up and running stalls at book fairs
• running a direct order delivery service around places of work
• helping organise book promotional events such as book signings.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

Starting pay is often based on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW).

As of 1 April 2026 the National Minimum Wage is £10.85 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20. The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour.

Supervisors and assistant managers usually earn from £16,000 to £22,000 a year. Senior managers and self-employed booksellers can earn £25,000 a year and above. If you are running a direct order delivery service, your income is commission-based and will therefore vary from week to week.

Conditions

• You will be in a bookshop most of the time, but might visit warehouses and book fairs.
• You normally work around 37 hours a week, probably in shifts including evenings and weekends.
• Part time work is common.

Useful Subjects

• English

Getting In

• The most common way in is to contact the bookshop head office asking if there are vacancies.
• Most large employers have moved to online recruitment. Check company websites for more details.
• Entry requirements vary. Some employers will consider you with subjects at National 4 or 5, but more commonly are asking for a degree.
• In a larger store you will start out as a sales assistant.
• It helps if you have work experience in a bookshop, perhaps at weekends or during the holidays.
• Computer skills are usually essential.
• A driving licence may be useful.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2026

104145

0.5 %

FALL

2031

103591

  United Kingdom

2026

1162511

0.3 %

RISE

2031

1165844

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What Does it Take?

You should have:

• a wide reading of classical and current literature
• a passion for reading and talking about books
• good general knowledge
• good communication skills with different people
• commercial awareness and sales skills
• good organisational skills
• excellent customer service skills
• a polite manner and smart appearance.

Training

• Training is mostly on the job.
• Some big employers run their own training schemes.
• Some employers help their staff to take Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) in Retail Skills at SCQF Level 6 or Retail (Sales Professional) at SCQF Level 6.

Getting On

• Online bookselling is now more popular than the shop-based industry.
• You might gain promotion quite soon, but it can make little difference to your pay. You usually become manager of a section and then manager of a floor.
• You might become self-employed and concentrate on particular types of books such as second hand or specialist books.
• You could move into other areas such as publishing or marketing of books.

More Information

There has been a decline in this area of work due to the increase in online shopping and the use of e-book readers.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.