Instructional Designer
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology into instruction in order to provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. May train and coach teachers. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors.
Also called: Curriculum Coordinator · Curriculum Director · Curriculum Specialist · Curriculum and Instruction Director · Education Specialist · Instructional Designer · Instructional Systems Specialist · Instructional Technologist
O*NET-SOC 25-9031.00 (Instructional Coordinators)
Instructional Designer salary
Wages for instructional coordinators across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $37.23.
Instructional Designer pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $50,740 | $97,010 | $152,260 |
| Texas | $52,490 | $78,710 | $106,070 |
| Florida | $44,900 | $60,790 | $98,440 |
| New York | $50,620 | $80,560 | $125,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,220 | $75,580 | $105,350 |
| Illinois | $45,220 | $76,050 | $112,420 |
| Ohio | $46,660 | $77,760 | $107,290 |
| Georgia | $56,700 | $81,060 | $119,600 |
| North Carolina | $46,370 | $63,340 | $95,150 |
| Michigan | $51,830 | $79,290 | $108,970 |
Instructional Designer job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 248,700 jobs in 2025 to 252,800 in 2035 (2% change).
- About 23,100 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Below Average.
How to become an instructional designer
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma.5%
- High school diploma or equivalent4.3%
- Some college, no degree6.2%
- Associate's degree3.4%
- Bachelor's degree28.8%
- Master's degree46.6%
- Doctoral or professional degree10.1%
Related training programs
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Educational/Instructional Technology
What does an instructional designer do?
Common tasks
- Observe work of teaching staff to evaluate performance and to recommend changes that could strengthen teaching skills.
- Plan and conduct teacher training programs and conferences dealing with new classroom procedures, instructional materials and equipment, and teaching aids.
- Interpret and enforce provisions of state education codes and rules and regulations of state education boards.
- Conduct or participate in workshops, committees, and conferences designed to promote the intellectual, social, and physical welfare of students.
- Advise teaching and administrative staff in curriculum development, use of materials and equipment, and implementation of state and federal programs and procedures.
- Advise and teach students.
- Prepare grant proposals, budgets, and program policies and goals or assist in their preparation.
- Recommend, order, or authorize purchase of instructional materials, supplies, equipment, and visual aids designed to meet student educational needs and district standards.
- Update the content of educational programs to ensure that students are being trained with equipment and processes that are technologically current.
- Address public audiences to explain program objectives and to elicit support.
Most important skills
- Learning Strategies
- Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Instructing
- Teaching people how to do something.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
Instructional Designer certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Crane Institute of America · Core
- ASHRAE · Advanced
- Crane Institute of America · Advanced
- ASHRAE · Advanced
- Crane Institute of America · Core
- Crane Institute of America · Core
- Crane Institute of America · Core
Instructional Designer jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more education & training jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Education & Training jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Training and Development Specialist
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Training and Development Managers
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
- Elementary School Teacher
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Tutors
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
More education & training careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Instructional Coordinators. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.