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The differences between curriculum designers and instructional coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a curriculum designer and an instructional coordinator. Additionally, a curriculum designer has an average salary of $54,176, which is higher than the $48,344 average annual salary of an instructional coordinator.
The top three skills for a curriculum designer include subject matter experts, course content and project management. The most important skills for an instructional coordinator are curriculum development, instructional materials, and student learning.
| Curriculum Designer | Instructional Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $54,176 | $48,344 |
| Hourly rate | $26.05 | $23.24 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 44,751 | 25,255 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A curriculum designer creates and implements educational programs in schools, colleges, and other organizations that offer training and educational services. They usually work with teachers and academic administrators in establishing guidelines, academic roadmaps, and policies. A curriculum designer is also responsible for creating lesson plans and learning materials, conducting research and assessments, establishing curriculum timelines, and analyzing feedback from students, teachers, and administrators. They also monitor the students' academic progress to be able to make curriculum adjustments or changes when necessary.
Instructional coordinators, also called curriculum specialists, are responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing different instructional and educational material within the educational system. They work closely with the principal or school head to determine the effectiveness of materials, teaching methods, and techniques teachers use in following the school policies and guidelines. Also, they observe and evaluate their teachers and students, and they discuss the school's curriculum.
Curriculum designers and instructional coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Curriculum Designer | Instructional Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $54,176 | $48,344 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $76,000 | Between $34,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Edelman Financial Engines | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Education |
There are a few differences between a curriculum designer and an instructional coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Curriculum Designer | Instructional Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between curriculum designers' and instructional coordinators' demographics:
| Curriculum Designer | Instructional Coordinator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% | Male, 40.6% Female, 59.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.5% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |