Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between curriculum specialists and instructional designers 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 specialist and an instructional designer. Additionally, an instructional designer has an average salary of $57,534, which is higher than the $50,949 average annual salary of a curriculum specialist.
The top three skills for a curriculum specialist include math, curriculum development and K-12. The most important skills for an instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Curriculum Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $50,949 | $57,534 |
| Hourly rate | $24.49 | $27.66 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 1,583 | 50,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The primary job of curriculum specialists is to develop, assess, and improve curricula and instruction. They are responsible for guiding teachers on their teaching methods, conducting research and making recommendations for improvements, and evaluating existing curricula alongside teachers and administrators. A curriculum specialist is expected to assist in creating and revising instructional materials, analyzing student data, and evaluating and improving the utilization of classroom materials. You are also responsible for finding appropriate curricula and textbooks to improve the student body's learning outcomes.
An instructional designer focuses on devising learning materials and content to aid every students' learning difficulties. These can include videos, books, and presentations. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis to identify the needs of students, crafting learning strategies in collaboration with experts. They are also responsible for developing tools and materials to help assess every students' progress, such as quizzes and examinations. Furthermore, an instructional designer needs to coordinate with all personnel involved with the project to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Curriculum specialists and instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Curriculum Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $50,949 | $57,534 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $70,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | AARP | |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a curriculum specialist and an instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Curriculum Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between curriculum specialists' and instructional designers' demographics:
| Curriculum Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |