Instructional Designers


Overview

Instructional Designers

Introduction

Instructional designers design, develop, and deliver instructional materials and courses for colleges and universities, elementary and secondary schools, companies, nonprofits, government agencies, and other employers. They have a wide range of skills, including those in pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching), information technology, and digital design.

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$62,424

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Bachelors Degree


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Experience

Two to three years of related experience


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Skills

Digital Media|Drawing/Design|Teaching


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Personality Traits

Creative|Problem-Solving|Technical

Earnings

In 2018, The eLearning Guild conducted a survey of its members (who work in elearning positions in corporate, government, and academic settings). It found that the average base salary for its members in the United States was $84,421. 

PayScale.com reports that instructional designers earned salaries that ranged from $47,000 to $85,000 in 2020, according to salary data provided by instruc...

Work Environment

Instructional designers work in typical office settings at schools and other employers. The widespread usage of project management and video conferencing software allows many instructional designers to work from home or other remote locations some or all of the time.

Instructional designers cited a lack of buy-in to their work by teachers as the biggest obstacle to success in the workpla...

Outlook

U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the career of instructional designer as one of the best jobs in America based on its strong employment prospects and good salary.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that “colleges are increasingly using instructional designers to improve the quality of teaching, whether in online, in-person, or hybrid courses. The grow...