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The differences between curriculum writers and instructional design specialists 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 writer and an instructional design specialist. Additionally, a curriculum writer has an average salary of $57,563, which is higher than the $54,282 average annual salary of an instructional design specialist.
The top three skills for a curriculum writer include curriculum development, assessment items and student achievement. The most important skills for an instructional design specialist are instructional design, subject matter experts, and powerpoint.
| Curriculum Writer | Instructional Design Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $57,563 | $54,282 |
| Hourly rate | $27.67 | $26.10 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 11,540 | 44,814 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Curriculum writers are professionals who are responsible for developing new academic instructional materials, lessons, and activities to be used by teachers or instructional staff from school districts, media companies, and other businesses. These writers are required to conduct professional development sessions for all staff about the design and changes in the new curriculum. They must produce instructional videos to help educators and coaches in preparing educational and instructional materials. Curriculum writers must also head a pilot project to evaluate potential opportunities for extended learning through virtual classroom and distance learning strategies.
An instructional design specialist is responsible for developing instructional materials mainly used for training and education. Among their responsibilities include identifying and understanding the program or project's needs, performing extensive research and analysis, consulting with experts, devising training and assessment plans, and ensuring that all instructional materials adhere to a program or project's objectives. Moreover, as an instructional design specialist, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Curriculum writers and instructional design specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Curriculum Writer | Instructional Design Specialist | |
| Average salary | $57,563 | $54,282 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $94,000 | Between $39,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Baker Hughes |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a curriculum writer and an instructional design specialist in terms of educational background:
| Curriculum Writer | Instructional Design Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between curriculum writers' and instructional design specialists' demographics:
| Curriculum Writer | Instructional Design Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% | Male, 41.4% Female, 58.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |