Instructional designers, also referred to as instructional coordinators, develop products such as curricula and instructional materials for a variety of educational institutions. They also teach instructors and educators how to deliver the educational content to students using effective techniques, including books and technology, to successfully educate students.
Instructional designers generally obtain a master’s degree in an education discipline. Some employers require a teacher's license or school administrator’s license to be considered for employment. As technology becomes increasingly used in classrooms and through distance learning, instructional designers are required to have good technical skills using a variety of computer software and applications. (see ref 2 under “how to become one” and ref 2 under “tools and technology”)
As of May 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated an average salary of $59,280 per year or $29.50 per hour for instructional designers. The highest employment levels were in the educational services industry, employing 83 percent of industrial designers, and in government agencies, employing 10 percent of instructional designers.
Salaries can vary based on the type of employer and responsibilities of the job. Some instructional designers are self-employed. Among employers, the highest wages were paid by the federal government, where instructional designers earned an average salary of $87,790 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The District of Columbia paid wages that were higher than in any state in the United States, with an average salary of $81,140 per year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 20-percent growth during the decade from 2010 to 2020 for this occupation. Growth is expected due to an increased interest in improving the effectiveness of a teacher’s role. Instructional designers help teachers develop their skills to educate students and improve their grades, contributing to projected job growth that's faster than the average 14-percent growth expected across all occupations.