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Job outlook for curriculum developers in the United States
Curriculum developer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected curriculum developer job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 15,000 new jobs for curriculum developers are projected over the next decade.
Curriculum developer salaries have increased 7% for curriculum developers in the last 5 years.
There are over 57,305 curriculum developers currently employed in the United States.
There are 73,274 active curriculum developer job openings in the US.
The average curriculum developer salary is $53,226.
Are curriculum developer jobs in demand?
Curriculum developer job and salary trends over time
Curriculum developer jobs over time
Curriculum developer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57,305 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 54,252 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 54,777 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 50,817 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 48,831 | 0.01% |
Average curriculum developer salary over time
Curriculum developer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,226 | $25.59 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $52,685 | $25.33 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $51,223 | $24.63 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $50,667 | $24.36 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $49,641 | $23.87 | +0.3% |
Curriculum developer jobs by state
Most common states for curriculum developers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 191 | 28% |
| 2 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 358 | 19% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 133 | 18% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 950 | 17% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 334 | 16% |
| 6 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 139 | 16% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 868 | 15% |
| 8 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 428 | 15% |
| 9 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,431 | 14% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,035 | 14% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 100 | 14% |
| 12 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,486 | 13% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 849 | 13% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 408 | 13% |
| 15 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 179 | 13% |
| 16 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 733 | 12% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 684 | 12% |
| 18 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 337 | 11% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 952 | 10% |
| 20 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 301 | 10% |
Most common cities for curriculum developers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herndon | 1 | 4% | $64,172 |
| 2 | Ottumwa | 1 | 4% | $45,542 |
| 3 | Cupertino | 1 | 2% | $60,825 |
| 4 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $46,344 |
| 5 | Carson | 1 | 1% | $55,108 |
| 6 | Escondido | 1 | 1% | $54,176 |
| 7 | Mountain View | 1 | 1% | $60,914 |
| 8 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $65,793 |
| 9 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $52,516 |
| 10 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $66,906 |
| 11 | Chesapeake | 1 | 0% | $62,094 |
| 12 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $60,726 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $55,389 |
| 14 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $59,801 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $55,329 |
| 16 | Minneapolis | 1 | 0% | $62,179 |
| 17 | New Orleans | 1 | 0% | $36,818 |
| 18 | New York | 1 | 0% | $65,146 |
| 19 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $43,363 |
Curriculum Developer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of curriculum developer experts
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Indiana University Bloomington
Robert Morris University
Armstrong State University
What general advice would you give to a Curriculum Developer?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: While it is important to have specialized knowledge of industry-standard tools such as Articulate, AI, etc., it is more important to understand design-thinking and possess strong problem-solving skills. Understanding and utilizing a design framework is key to the creation of contemporary learning systems.
What Curriculum Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: Possess a health balance of general design skills and specific tool knowledge. Understand which tools are prevalent by reviewing job descriptions (AI does a great job of this) and augment your skill set. Don't wait for your graduate program to cover every tool; sometimes you have to learn some on your own. Practice presentation and interview skills and look for practicums and internships in your program.
What will help Curriculum Developers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: Funny you should ask. Artificial Intelligence is not over-hyped even though it may feel that way from the barrage of media and articles about it. If graduates don't at least have a working understanding of AI, especially as it relates to education, then they are behind. I especially advise that ed tech graduates practice prompt engineering and research AI as it relates to their specific areas of interest and expertise. In addition, complex problem-solving and understanding of cognition and neurosciences will be key.
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.
Department Chair of Learning, Design, and Adult Education, LDAE, Associate Professor of Instructional Systems Technology, ISTIndiana University Bloomington
Educational/Instructional Media Design
What general advice would you give to a Curriculum Developer?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Experience may help with maximizing salary potential as one enters the career in my field. Generally, degree programs offer various options for that, e.g., Indiana University has a studio-based option for a residential MS program, or course projects with clients (both in online and residential programs), internships, service learning, being involved in research projects. If a starting job candidate can show evidence from various experiences in their graduation portfolio (website), it may help them maximize the salary potential as they start their career.
What will help Curriculum Developers increase their earning potential?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Everyone needs to start somewhere. Learn most from each experience in the field and build your resume, experiences, and skills.
What general advice would you give to a Curriculum Developer?
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 Developer 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 Developers 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 general advice would you give to a Curriculum Developer?
Debbie Azevedo Ed.D.: Curriculum and Instruction graduates should embrace technology and stay current with educational trends. The educational field is constantly changing, and graduates can keep up with the latest research and educational technology by attending conferences, subscribing to journals, and attending professional development. Being up to date on the latest educational technology can support graduates in enhancing their learning and streamlining curriculum development.
What Curriculum Developer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Debbie Azevedo Ed.D.: Graduates can pursue additional certifications, such as special education or bilingual authorizations. Another idea would be to seek opportunities in the private sector such as working with an edtech company or as an educational specialist, supporting school districts with curriculum and instructional practices.
What will help Curriculum Developers increase their earning potential?
Debbie Azevedo Ed.D.: 1. Collaboration with Colleagues and the Community - Graduates will need skills in teamwork and collaborating on curriculum design to create educational experiences supportive and inclusive of all students. 2. Digital Integration - Graduates will integrate digital tools, including artificial intelligence, into their curriculum to enhance student learning. 3. Data Analysis - The skill of collecting and analyzing student data to inform instruction will be essential in improving student outcomes. 4. Personalized Learning Design - The skill of designing curricula to fit students' needs, including adaptive learning technologies and individualized learning paths, will be critical in the next 3-5 years as learning becomes more student-centered.
What will help Curriculum Developers 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.