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How much does a Instructional Designer make?

The average salary for a Instructional Designer is $77,435 per year in the US.

Instructional designers create learning materials and programs for various settings. They work with educators, corporations, and other organizations. These professionals earn a competitive salary. The average yearly salary for an instructional designer is around $77,435. This number can vary based on experience, location, and the industry.

Here is a look at the salary distribution for instructional designers. The lowest 10% earn about $37,934 annually. The top 10% make more than $132,858 each year. Most instructional designers fall somewhere in the middle. For instance, the middle 50% of earners make between $56,918 and $94,888 yearly. This shows a wide range of earning potential for those in this field. This makes it a rewarding career for those who love education and design.

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What are the highest paying cities for a Instructional Designer?

Instructional designers in San Jose, CA, earn the highest average salary at $110,713. Colorado Springs, CO, comes next with a solid average of $103,556. San Francisco, CA, also offers competitive pay, with an average salary of $103,529. In Boston, MA, the average salary is $90,582, while Washington, DC, provides $88,731. Seattle, WA, and Philadelphia, PA, offer $87,781 and $86,844 respectively. Los Angeles, CA, pays $86,600, and both Pittsburgh, PA, and Greensboro, NC, average around $86,500. These cities present attractive options for those seeking rewarding roles in instructional design.
Graph displaying highest paying cities salaries for Instructional Designer jobs, highlighting San Jose, CA with the highest at $110,713 and Greensboro, NC with the lowest at $85,418.
  1. San Jose, CA
    Average Salary: $110,713
    In San Jose, tech companies thrive. This makes it a great place to create engaging learning experiences. Silicon Valley firms offer many opportunities to shape innovative educational content.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in San Jose, CA


  2. Colorado Springs, CO
    Average Salary: $103,556
    Colorado Springs offers a mix of defense and tech sectors. These industries need well-designed training programs. Companies here value instructional designers who can make complex topics clear and understandable.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Colorado Springs, CO


  3. San Francisco, CA
    Average Salary: $103,529
    San Francisco's vibrant tech scene brings many chances for instructional designers. Leading companies focus on user-friendly learning materials. Designers here work to create top-quality educational content.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in San Francisco, CA


  4. Boston, MA
    Average Salary: $90,582
    Boston offers a rich mix of education and healthcare sectors. Companies value designers who can create effective training programs. Opportunities in this city are great for those who enjoy a fast-paced environment.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Boston, MA


  5. Washington, DC
    Average Salary: $88,731
    Washington, DC is home to many government and non-profit organizations. These entities need well-structured training programs. Designers here have the chance to work on projects that impact many people.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Washington, DC


  6. Seattle, WA
    Average Salary: $87,781
    Seattle's tech industry is booming. This city offers lots of chances to create cutting-edge training materials. Companies like Amazon and Microsoft need designers who can keep their training programs up-to-date.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Seattle, WA


  7. Philadelphia, PA
    Average Salary: $86,844
    Philadelphia has a strong mix of education and healthcare sectors. Designers here create programs that help employees learn better. This city offers many opportunities to make a difference.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Philadelphia, PA


  8. Los Angeles, CA
    Average Salary: $86,600
    Los Angeles offers a vibrant mix of entertainment and tech industries. Designers create engaging content for a diverse range of companies. The city's creative environment offers many chances to innovate.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Los Angeles, CA


  9. Pittsburgh, PA
    Average Salary: $86,552
    Pittsburgh's strong focus on manufacturing and technology creates many opportunities. Companies here value designers who can create clear and effective training programs. This city offers a mix of challenges and rewards.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Pittsburgh, PA


  10. Greensboro, NC
    Average Salary: $85,418
    Greensboro is a growing tech and healthcare hub. This city offers many chances for designers to create impactful training materials. Companies here value creativity and innovation in educational content.
    Find Instructional Designer jobs in Greensboro, NC

What are the best companies a Instructional Designer can work for?

Leidos offers one of the highest salaries for Instructional Designer jobs at around $139,000. Amazon.com and Booz Allen Hamilton also provide competitive wages. These companies value learning and development, making them excellent choices for those in this field. Top institutions like U.S. Bank and Stafford Consulting offer good compensation packages, too. Companies like Western Governors University and Savvas Learning Company invest in their employees, providing attractive salaries. Public institutions such as Virginia Community College System and Penn State University, though offering slightly lower salaries, provide other benefits that might appeal to job seekers.
Graph displaying best paying company salaries for Instructional Designer jobs, highlighting Leidos with the highest at $139,384 and Penn State University with the lowest at $58,430.
  1. Leidos
    Average Salary: $139,384
    Leidos offers rewarding Instructional Designer jobs with opportunities across various locations in the United States. This company focuses on tech, engineering, and national security. Employees often work in office environments, creating educational programs for government and private sector clients.


  2. Amazon.com
    Average Salary: $122,512
    At Amazon, Instructional Designers help create engaging learning experiences for employees. This company operates worldwide with major hubs in Seattle, New York, and Austin. Amazon values creativity and innovation in its instructional design roles.


  3. Booz Allen Hamilton
    Average Salary: $104,509
    Booz Allen Hamilton provides a variety of Instructional Designer positions that focus on delivering training solutions for government and commercial clients. The company operates in major cities across the U.S., including Washington, D.C., and McLean, Virginia.


  4. U.S. Bank
    Average Salary: $101,078
    U.S. Bank offers Instructional Designer positions that involve crafting educational programs for its staff. This company operates in many locations across the country, emphasizing teamwork and a strong work-life balance.


  5. Stafford Consulting
    Average Salary: $91,154
    Stafford Consulting seeks Instructional Designers to develop training materials for its clients. The company is located in Virginia and works with a variety of industries to enhance employee learning.


  6. SAIC
    Average Salary: $85,455
    SAIC provides Instructional Designer jobs that focus on delivering training for government and commercial clients. This company operates in several locations in the U.S., including Virginia and Maryland.


  7. Western Governors University
    Average Salary: $84,287
    Western Governors University offers Instructional Designer positions to create and implement online learning programs. The university operates in multiple states, with its main campus in Salt Lake City, Utah.


  8. Savvas Learning Company
    Average Salary: $68,176
    Savvas Learning Company provides Instructional Designer roles that focus on developing educational content for students. The company is located in New Jersey and works to create effective learning materials.


  9. Virginia Community College System
    Average Salary: $67,105
    The Virginia Community College System offers Instructional Designer positions that focus on creating learning programs for college students. This system operates multiple campuses across Virginia.


  10. Penn State University
    Average Salary: $58,430
    Penn State University provides Instructional Designer roles to develop educational programs for its students. The university operates in several locations in Pennsylvania, including its main campus in University Park.

How to earn more as a Instructional Designer?

Instructional Designers play a key role in creating educational programs. Their work helps people learn new skills. To earn more in this field, several factors can make a difference. These factors include education, experience, skills, certifications, and networking.

First, earning advanced degrees can lead to higher pay. Many employers value a master's degree or higher. This advanced education can show a deeper understanding of instructional design principles. It can also prepare designers for more complex projects.

  1. Education: A master's degree often leads to higher salaries.
  2. Experience: More years in the field usually mean higher pay.
  3. Skills: Strong skills in e-learning tools boost earning potential.
  4. Certifications: Professional certifications can increase market value.
  5. Networking: Building a strong professional network can lead to better job opportunities.

Experience also plays a big role. Those with more years in the field often command higher salaries. This is because they have a proven track record of success. Gaining experience in various industries can also widen job opportunities and increase earning potential.

Currently 447 Instructional Designer job openings, nationwide.

How's the job market for a Instructional Designer in the US?

Learn what a Instructional Designer does, how to become one, and understand the job outlook. Get simple steps to start your career as a Instructional Designer today.
Position
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Instructional Designer
447 Job Openings