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The differences between curriculum writers 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 writer and an instructional designer. Additionally, a curriculum writer has an average salary of $57,563, which is higher than the $57,534 average annual salary of an instructional designer.
The top three skills for a curriculum writer include curriculum development, assessment items and student achievement. The most important skills for an instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Curriculum Writer | Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $57,563 | $57,534 |
| Hourly rate | $27.67 | $27.66 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 11,540 | 50,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 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 writers and instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Curriculum Writer | Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $57,563 | $57,534 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $94,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a curriculum writer and an instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Curriculum Writer | 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 writers' and instructional designers' demographics:
| Curriculum Writer | Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| 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, 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% |