How to hire a curriculum designer

How to hire a curriculum designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step curriculum designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a curriculum designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new curriculum designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a curriculum designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a curriculum designer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A curriculum designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, curriculum designers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents curriculum designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Curriculum Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Curriculum Designer	Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, coordinate its implementation with teachers and principals, and assess its effectiveness.	$18-36
   Vocational Training Instructor	A vocational training instructor is responsible for teaching students with the subject expertise needed to land a job for a specific industry requirement. Vocational training instructors are the same as regular instructors as they also identify the students' strengths and weaknesses, manage their learning expectations, and develop personalized teaching plans to address difficulties... Show more	$17-41
   Instructional Coordinator	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... Show more	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Subject Matter Experts
   • Course Content
   • Project Management
   • Curriculum Design
   • Curriculum Development
   • Training Programs
   • Training Materials
   • Instructional Materials
   • K-12
   • Educational Programs
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Training Courses
   • SMEs
   • Blended Learning

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the virtualization of military training exercises and provide periods of instruction using virtual simulations.
   • Coach SMEs on content development, delivery techniques and facilitation skills.
   • Create storyboards for elearning solutions, including activities and knowledge checks.
   • Develop practical working solutions to address performance gaps using ADDIE model.
   • Develop animations, audio, video, scenarios, and graphics into engaging eLearning courses.
   • Conduct training session with peers, contractors and customer SMEs on training development systems and tools.

   More curriculum designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your curriculum designer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A curriculum designer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a curriculum designer in Florida may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level curriculum designer usually earns less than a senior-level curriculum designer. Additionally, a curriculum designer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average curriculum designer salary

   $54,176yearly

   $26.05 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level curriculum designer salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average curriculum designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$73,728	$35
   2	California	$62,261	$30
   3	Massachusetts	$60,112	$29
   4	Pennsylvania	$57,725	$28
   5	Michigan	$57,455	$28
   6	Illinois	$55,571	$27
   7	Colorado	$53,378	$26
   8	Texas	$53,254	$26
   9	North Carolina	$52,801	$25
   10	Arizona	$51,916	$25
   11	Florida	$45,410	$22

   Average curriculum designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Edelman Financial Engines	$98,770	$47.49
   2	Duolingo	$88,319	$42.46	7
   3	Weatherford International	$66,991	$32.21
   4	Chicago Public Schools	$64,987	$31.24	1
   5	Centene	$64,334	$30.93
   6	Hartwick College	$64,140	$30.84
   7	Volkswagen Group of America	$63,901	$30.72
   8	Northrop Grumman	$63,456	$30.51	11
   9	Audi Dallas	$62,036	$29.82
   10	Amplify	$57,728	$27.75
   11	Fayetteville State University	$57,080	$27.44
   12	Robert Half	$48,464	$23.30	36
   13	Woodward Academy	$48,285	$23.21

4. Writing a curriculum designer job description

   A curriculum designer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a curriculum designer job description:

   Curriculum designer job description example

   You could be the one who changes everything for our 26 million members. Centene is transforming the health of our communities, one person at a time. As a diversified, national organization, you'll have access to competitive benefits including a fresh perspective on workplace flexibility.
   
   Position Purpose: Design, implement and maintain training resources. Write, update, evaluate, and propose training programs supporting technical process documentation, operational systems, e learning, and website development. Prior experience with Articulate Storyline or 360 is required to meet expectations of the role. A Portfolio of work will be reviewed as a part of the interview process.
   Responsibilities:
   
   Design instructional strategies, activities, and materials that support performance and learning within functional teams
   
   Create and implement e-learning, virtual simulations, and employee assessments supported by approved platforms using an online environment
   
   Outline and deliver timely training project plans
   
   Design and maintain training websites and resources
   
   Assist in the development of instruments to assess individual change in knowledge, skills and quality results
   
   Conduct reviews of training program objectives assessing the need for modifications to content and structure
   
   Research current industry trends; recommend and incorporate related updates into the standard curriculum
   
   Facilitate training as needed to support operational goals
   
   Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree in instructional design related field or equivalent experience. 3+ years of curriculum design or training development experience. Solid understanding of instructional design methodologies, learning technologies and adult learning principles. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Experience designing curriculums in adult learning settings. Curriculum development in the healthcare industry and project management experience preferred. Website design, Articulate 360/Storyline and, Adobe Captivate experience preferred.
   
   Our Comprehensive Benefits Package: Flexible work solutions including remote options, hybrid work schedules and dress flexibility, Competitive pay, Paid time off including holidays, Health insurance coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) and stock purchase plans, Tuition reimbursement and best-in-class training and development.
   
   Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.
   
   **TITLE:** Curriculum Designer - eLearning
   
   **LOCATION:** Various, Florida
   
   **REQNUMBER:** 1348871

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right curriculum designer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with curriculum designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit curriculum designers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your curriculum designer job on Zippia to find and recruit curriculum designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting curriculum designers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new curriculum designer

   Once you've selected the best curriculum designer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new curriculum designer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a curriculum designer?