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Job outlook for curriculum designers in the United States
Curriculum designer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected curriculum designer job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 15,000 new jobs for curriculum designers are projected over the next decade.
Curriculum designer salaries have increased 7% for curriculum designers in the last 5 years.
There are over 10,439 curriculum designers currently employed in the United States.
There are 44,751 active curriculum designer job openings in the US.
The average curriculum designer salary is $54,176.
Are curriculum designer jobs in demand?
Curriculum designer job and salary trends over time
Curriculum designer jobs over time
Curriculum designer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,439 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,883 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 9,984 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 9,262 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 8,899 | 0.00% |
Average curriculum designer salary over time
Curriculum designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $54,176 | $26.05 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $53,626 | $25.78 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $52,138 | $25.07 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $51,571 | $24.79 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $50,528 | $24.29 | +0.3% |
Curriculum designer jobs by state
Most common states for curriculum designers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 199 | 29% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 693 | 9% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 634 | 9% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 378 | 9% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 644 | 8% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,581 | 7% |
| 7 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 715 | 7% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 380 | 7% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 205 | 7% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 88 | 7% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 350 | 6% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 339 | 6% |
| 13 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,052 | 5% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 674 | 5% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 507 | 5% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 297 | 5% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 133 | 5% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 61 | 5% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 58 | 5% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 29 | 5% |
Most common cities for curriculum designers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | 2 | 2% | $51,759 |
| 2 | Chesterfield | 1 | 2% | $45,906 |
| 3 | San Bruno | 1 | 2% | $62,340 |
| 4 | Tallahassee | 2 | 1% | $44,404 |
| 5 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $61,930 |
| 6 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $55,571 |
| 7 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $62,293 |
Curriculum Designer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of curriculum designer experts
Robert Morris University
Armstrong State University
What general advice would you give to a Curriculum Designer?
Dr. Richard Fuller: AI is growing and becoming more and more part of the lexicon of teaching and learning in all areas of prek-12, higher education, and corporate training and development. This will need to be understood on both the offensive side, which is using AI as pedagogy as well as the defensive side to combat academic integrity issues. Online teaching and learning, in both synchronous and asynchronous modalities in addition to more traditional f2f methodologies and pedagogies, will become more and more important as Universities look for more sustainable tools. Much was learned during the pandemic lock-down and this knowledge and skill are being used in a post-pandemic world. Keep an open mind to new innovations in curriculum design and different theories and methods to map, align, and develop curriculum. This ever-changing dynamic is grounded, however, in the fundamentals that were learned through your degree. Additionally, stay up on all the technology that is advancing. This is key in the C&I; and the instructional design world. Tech moves very fast and what you know today is outmoded tomorrow. C&I; must stay current and active to assist others through teaching and design. Knowing how to use tech and different software is tantamount to success as an instructional designer or teacher.
What Curriculum Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Richard Fuller: Be open to opportunities that will present themselves in Prek-12, higher education or corporate training and development. Many places will see the value in hiring employees with the knowledge and skills that come with a Curriculum and Instruction (C&I;) degree and will create positions accordingly. Most organizations see the value of a training and development department with specific uses. Hospitals, k-12 schools, for profit organizations and nonprofit organization incorporate instructional designers with a curriculum and instruction degree. Even higher education (HE) hire instructional designers to work with faculty. HE faculty are subject matter experts but don’t know about instruction or curriculum or how to teach online or in person f2f. They also don’t understand the value or how to design and develop curriculum and transfer that to the classroom. PreK-12 utilize C&I; grads as both trainers and as coordinators of curriculum. This may require an advanced degree (graduate or doctoral), but nonetheless, it is an opportunity and something to think about as you progress through your career. Training and Development is an obvious opportunity in many corporations and organizations as C&I; prepared graduates have a body of knowledge and skills that align with training needs in designing and delivering training for corporate and organizational initiatives in all areas. There are those with a C&I; degree who also hold teaching certificates in some area of Prek-12. This may open other doors for them in teaching in the classroom but with the degree may present additional opportunities in an organization’s administrative capacity or training.
What will help Curriculum Designers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Richard Fuller: First, know your value going into an interview. What are you really worth? Do your homework on what the salary range for the role is and the going rate with comparable jobs. Second, maximize your experiences and don’t undersell them on your resume/cv. Without embellishing, state your roles and experience in the best light utilizing wording that truly represents what you have done. Build on the experiences that you had during your undergraduate and graduate degrees (if appropriate). Third, be willing to walk away if they don’t meet your needs not only in salary but also in the role of the job and what you will be doing on a daily basis, with and for whom. If they want you they will come to your needs. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. You have power in that this is your life and your job and you need to decide if they are going to meet your needs. Don’t just settle if it is not right. Vet the job out completely and then decide.
What will help Curriculum Designers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD: In the coming years, proficiency in educational technology is expected to become increasingly important. Graduates should focus on honing their skills in integrating digital tools into the curriculum, leveraging data for informed decision-making, and staying abreast of advancements in online and blended learning environments. Additionally, addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in education will be crucial for educators to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.