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The differences between curriculum writers 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 writer and a senior instructional designer. Additionally, a senior instructional designer has an average salary of $68,140, which is higher than the $57,563 average annual salary of a curriculum writer.
The top three skills for a curriculum writer include curriculum development, assessment items and student achievement. The most important skills for a senior instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Curriculum Writer | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $57,563 | $68,140 |
| Hourly rate | $27.67 | $32.76 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 11,540 | 47,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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.
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 writers and senior instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Curriculum Writer | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $57,563 | $68,140 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $94,000 | Between $49,000 And $93,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Newtown, CT |
| Highest paying state | - | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | - | Algolia |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a curriculum writer and a senior instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Curriculum Writer | 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 writers' and senior instructional designers' demographics:
| Curriculum Writer | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% |
| 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, 10.6% 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% |