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The differences between curriculum specialists and senior 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 a senior instructional designer. Additionally, a senior instructional designer has an average salary of $68,140, 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 a senior instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Curriculum Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $50,949 | $68,140 |
| Hourly rate | $24.49 | $32.76 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 1,583 | 47,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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.
A senior instructional designer specializes in developing instructional and educational materials for a specific group of individuals, including children and adults. Their duties involve working together with the clients in identifying project needs and requirements, collaborating with experts, conducting research and assessments, utilizing theories and other studies in developing instructional materials, and subjecting the materials into different inspections to ensure quality and accuracy. Additionally, a senior instructional designer must utilize their expertise and experience by training and supervising junior designers while implementing policies and regulations.
Curriculum specialists and senior instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Curriculum Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $50,949 | $68,140 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $70,000 | Between $49,000 And $93,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Newtown, CT |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | AARP | Algolia |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a curriculum specialist and a senior instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Curriculum Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between curriculum specialists' and senior instructional designers' demographics:
| Curriculum Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |