Life As an Instructional Designer or Technologist
Occupation Description Develop instructional materials and products and assist in the technology-based redesign of courses. Assist faculty in learning about, becoming proficient in, and applying instructional technology.
What Do Instructional Designers and Technologists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Present and make recommendations regarding course design, technology, and instruction delivery options.
- Recommend changes to curricula or delivery methods, based on information such as instructional effectiveness data, current or future performance requirements, feasibility, and costs.
- Develop instruction or training roadmaps for online and blended learning programs.
- Design instructional aids for stand-alone or instructor-led classroom or online use.
- Provide analytical support for the design and development of training curricula, learning strategies, educational policies, or courseware standards.
- Develop instructional materials, such as lesson plans, handouts, or examinations.
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Things an Instructional Designer or Technologist Should Know How to Do
When polled, Instructional Designers and Technologists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles
- IT Senior Analyst (Instructional Technology Senior Analyst)
- Instructional Technology Site Technologist
- Instructional Systems Designer
- Instructional Design Technologist
- Team Lead, Teacher Support and Student Intervention
Job Opportunities for Instructional Designers and Technologists
In the United States, there were 163,200 jobs for Instructional Designer or Technologist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 17,200 new jobs for Instructional Designer or Technologist by 2026. There will be an estimated 16,900 positions for Instructional Designer or Technologist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Instructional Designer or Technologist are Utah, Nevada, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Wyoming, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Instructional Designers and Technologists Salary
The average yearly salary of an Instructional Designer or Technologist ranges between $36,360 and $102,200.

Instructional Designers and Technologists who work in Connecticut, District of Columbia, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Instructional Designers and Technologists make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $72,270 |
Alaska | $69,130 |
Arizona | $52,310 |
Arkansas | $58,380 |
California | $80,860 |
Colorado | $67,520 |
Connecticut | $92,330 |
Delaware | $67,640 |
District of Columbia | $93,400 |
Florida | $52,900 |
Georgia | $66,820 |
Hawaii | $68,880 |
Idaho | $53,390 |
Illinois | $67,540 |
Indiana | $62,760 |
Iowa | $69,450 |
Kansas | $57,320 |
Kentucky | $60,530 |
Louisiana | $51,200 |
Maine | $63,250 |
Maryland | $73,430 |
Massachusetts | $76,270 |
Michigan | $66,750 |
Minnesota | $69,070 |
Mississippi | $58,730 |
Missouri | $59,400 |
Montana | $54,430 |
Nebraska | $64,870 |
Nevada | $65,740 |
New Hampshire | $62,800 |
New Jersey | $75,980 |
New Mexico | $60,740 |
New York | $71,440 |
North Carolina | $56,480 |
North Dakota | $63,030 |
Ohio | $64,680 |
Oklahoma | $55,800 |
Oregon | $78,200 |
Pennsylvania | $67,890 |
Rhode Island | $59,090 |
South Carolina | $58,040 |
South Dakota | $62,150 |
Tennessee | $56,220 |
Texas | $66,060 |
Utah | $57,530 |
Vermont | $59,440 |
Virginia | $75,710 |
Washington | $68,480 |
West Virginia | $55,880 |
Wisconsin | $65,270 |
Wyoming | $67,300 |
What Tools do Instructional Designers and Technologists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Instructional Designers and Technologists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- SAS
- Microsoft Publisher
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Extensible markup language XML
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
How do I Become an Instructional Designer or Technologist?
What kind of Instructional Designer or Technologist requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Instructional Designer or Technologist?

Instructional Designers and Technologists Sector

Instructional Designers and Technologists work in the following industries:

References:
Image Credit: Disarnot via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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