Bookseller

As a bookseller, your primary concerns will be customer service, a love of books and reading, and excellent knowledge of the wider book market.

You'll offer information and advice about books, helping the public choose titles. You'll also order stock and work with publishing companies and representatives, as well as merchandise the store.

You may work for a specialist book shop or for a retailer where books form only part of the stock. This could be a large company or small independent bookshop specialising in a particular area, such as children's literature or antiquarian books.

What does a bookseller do?

As a bookseller, you'll generally need to:

• serve a range of customers, offering advice, recommendations, and dealing with general enquiries
• maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current titles and changes in the market
• undertake bibliographic work using computer or print sources to identify and locate titles
• process customer orders and book reservations, as well as deal with online and mail orders
• handle payments made by cash, card, and vouchers, which often involves using EPOS (electronic point of sale) technology
• buy from online catalogues and publisher's representatives, though the extent to which bookselling staff are involved in buying stock varies from shop to shop
• negotiate prices with sellers and conduct other monetary-based duties, such as paying invoices
• process deliveries, returns, and carry out stock checks on books and other merchandise
• create in-store and window displays, whilst maintaining commercial awareness regarding what's current in the world of books
• help with book events, including organising talks, author signing sessions, and reading groups
• liaise with teaching and library staff on set texts in academic shops
• liaise with other external account holders, such as schools, councils, and companies
• meet sales targets and review performance
• undertake other duties, including handling deliveries, unpacking stock, refilling shelves, cashing up tills, and tidying.

With increased responsibility, the role becomes more operations and business-orientated. For those at higher levels, the work also involves dealing with staff training, budget setting, and reporting sales and budget figures.

How much does a bookseller earn?

• Starting salaries for booksellers in the UK are around £17,000 but can average up to £21,000.
• At senior level, or with experience, pay is £25,000 on average. The upper end of the scale is only achieved by those who've progressed to managing a large bookshop or a large branch of a chain.
• According to the Bookseller salaries survey 2025, it's possible to earn upwards of £36,000, if not more, though this will depend on the company and location.

Salaries vary and depend on the location and size of the shop but tend to be modest. There may be more scope for increased pay in the larger bookshop chains. Many shops offer staff discounts and some offer other incentives.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does a bookseller work?

Working hours are typically in line with shop opening times. This means you'll likely be working weekends and over holiday periods, with Christmas being the busiest time. You may also do evenings, such as during author signing sessions.

Opportunities for part-time work are good. Career breaks are also possible. You'll mostly be onsite at the bookshop itself.

How do I become a bookseller?

Although this area is open to all graduates, a degree or HND in literature or business and management may increase your chances. However, qualifications are not essential. Bookshops on campus often employ students on temporary contracts. More specialist shops may favour applicants with a good academic background and specify a degree for entry, although the work itself may not necessarily draw upon this.

What skills does a bookseller need?

In general, you'll need to have:

• a passion for books, with an awareness of current literary topics
• excellent communication skills and the ability and confidence to deal with a range of people
• organisational and time management skills
• good teamworking ability
• the ability to work well under pressure and during busy periods
• commercial awareness, with a grasp of e-commerce and basic IT literacy to use online delivery services
• a certain degree of stamina, as the role often involves standing for long periods, as well as lifting heavy boxes of items.

Where can I get work experience as a bookseller?

Although pre-entry experience is not always required, a background in retail or other history working with the public will improve your chances. Likewise, demonstrating you can communicate effectively and work as part of a team will help.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs booksellers?

The most likely employers in this field are the chains of high street specialist and non-specialist bookshops, which, between them, account for the largest share of the retail bookselling market in the UK. Examples include Waterstones and TGJones (formerly WHSmith).

Employment can also be found in the many smaller, privately owned businesses, representing a substantial proportion of the book sales market.

Books are also sold in supermarkets, discount stores, as well as through book clubs, and online, so other job opportunities can be found through these channels.

Up-to-date information about bookshop groups and the book market is available from the Booksellers Association (BA).

Look for job vacancies at:

• bookcareers.com
• The Bookseller.

Some jobs are secured through speculative applications, and both the BA and the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association (ABA) publish directories of members.

Where can a career in bookselling lead?

Bookseller training is mainly on the job and there's currently no formal professional qualification in this area. It may be useful to gain membership of the BA or the ABA.

All posts are likely to involve structured training in the form of an induction, covering an introduction to the business, and basic bookselling techniques. Further development opportunities vary depending on the size and nature of the organisation, but may include:

• bibliographic searching
• customer service
• specialist areas, such as children's bookselling or event management.

For those aiming higher, some larger employers offer fast-track training schemes or trainee manager schemes, covering areas such as:

• budgeting and finance
• business and consumer legislation
• marketing
• recruitment and management of staff
• stock management.

The ability to understand and manage digital marketing is increasingly important. In particular, knowledge of social media platforms to help attract younger readers is very beneficial. Some training is available in this area, such as in the format of workshops and webinars. See the BA's resources for aspiring and new booksellers.

In smaller businesses, training and development may be provided by more experienced colleagues, though some external courses may be supported. The BA runs their own , such as Introduction to Bookselling.

Postgraduate courses are available in the history of the book, which may be an option for those interested in a career in antiquarian bookselling and who are interested in further study. For more details, search postgraduate courses in book history.

Promotion prospects are good within large chains, which often promote internally, although relocation to a different branch may be necessary. Conversely, advancing in smaller outlets may be more limited.

Typically, progression in a larger store might involve specialisation in a specific subject area, managing a particular section or floor before moving into an assistant manager or store manager position. This process can be rapid and it's possible for a graduate to be managing a branch within three years from a more junior role.

Booksellers may move into publishing where commercial knowledge of the book industry can be very useful, although this is a very competitive field.

Other avenues include independent and antiquarian bookselling. Specialist market sectors include academic, children's and religious bookshops.

Developments relating to digital reading devices, such as e-readers and different sales platforms, provide a wider variety of opportunities. However, they also create intensified competition for a share of the book-buying market. As a result, commercial knowledge and aptitude are increasingly important to succeed.

Although not known for its diversity, the bookselling workforce is felt to be generally inclusive. There are slightly more women than men working in the industry. The Booksellers Association provides detailed information in its Workforce Diversity Survey.