How To Become An E-Learning Designer: What It Is and Career Path

What is an e-learning designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD

E-learning designers create virtual learning programs for students. They understand the needs of their student population and develop a syllabus around it. E-learning designers may also determine the appropriate medium for specific information and administer educational material appropriately.

An e-learning designer's job is a continuous one because they must find a way to use new technology to enhance their student's learning experience. They may also need to collaborate with the instructor and subject matter experts on the educational materials to be administered.

E-learning designers may operate from the tech department of a school or academic institution. They often have experience with the relevant technology to be used. They also need skills like communication, listening, empathy, and problem-solving.

To become an e-learning designer, applicants need a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. They'll also need prior experience as an instructor and the relevant computer skills to administer an e-curriculum.

What general advice would you give to an e-learning designer?

Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD

Program Coordinator, Armstrong State University

New graduates entering the field of Curriculum & Instruction should prioritize building a diverse skill set, staying current with educational trends, and actively seeking opportunities for professional development. Cultivating strong verbal and written communication skills will enhance collaboration with colleagues, parents, and students. Adapting to evolving educational methodologies, such as culturally relevant pedagogies, will contribute to long-term success.

ScoreE-Learning DesignerUS Average

Salary

5.1

Avg. Salary $65,312

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.68%

Asian 5.53%

Black or African American 9.01%

Hispanic or Latino 17.33%

Unknown 3.81%

White 63.64%

Gender

female 38.11%

male 61.89%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an e-learning designer

Explore e-learning designer education requirements

Most common e-learning designer degrees

Bachelor's

55.7 %

Associate

22.6 %

Master's

13.1 %

Start to develop specific e-learning designer skills

Skills	Percentages
Learning Objectives	12.75%
Instructional Design	11.63%
Training Programs	11.23%
Addie	10.32%
Captivate	9.76%

Complete relevant e-learning designer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New e-learning designers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an e-learning designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real e-learning designer resumes.

Research e-learning designer duties and responsibilities

Manage complex e-Learning projects involving SME s and reviewers from multiple levels and departments in the organization.
Develop SCORM compliant eLearning courses, assessments and acknowledgments.
Create storyboards, scripts, course content for eLearning solutions.
Design and code monthly newsletter broadcast using Photoshop, HTML, CSS.

Get e-learning designer experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an e-learning designer. The most common roles before becoming an e-learning designer include mechanical designer, instructional designer team lead and designer.

Prepare your e-learning designer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your e-learning designer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an e-learning designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable e-learning designer resume templates

Build a professional e-learning designer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your e-learning designer resume.