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Elearning specialist vs instructional designer

The differences between elearning specialists 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 an elearning specialist and an instructional designer. Additionally, an elearning specialist has an average salary of $71,898, which is higher than the $57,534 average annual salary of an instructional designer.

The top three skills for an elearning specialist include elearning, instructional design and learning management system. The most important skills for an instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.

Elearning specialist vs instructional designer overview

Elearning SpecialistInstructional Designer
Yearly salary$71,898$57,534
Hourly rate$34.57$27.66
Growth rate8%7%
Number of jobs49,05750,321
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Elearning specialist vs instructional designer salary

Elearning specialists and instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Elearning SpecialistInstructional Designer
Average salary$71,898$57,534
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $110,000Between $41,000 And $79,000
Highest paying City-Hartford, CT
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between elearning specialist and instructional designer education

There are a few differences between an elearning specialist and an instructional designer in terms of educational background:

Elearning SpecialistInstructional Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorElementary EducationBusiness
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Elearning specialist vs instructional designer demographics

Here are the differences between elearning specialists' and instructional designers' demographics:

Elearning SpecialistInstructional Designer
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 52.9% Female, 47.1%Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 6.5% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%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 Percentage12%16%

Differences between elearning specialist and instructional designer duties and responsibilities

Elearning specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage the integration of the student information system Jenzabar CX/JICS with Moodle.
  • Develop evaluation and tracking instruments in HTML, XML and JavaScript.
  • Use a modify version of ADDIE to build courses.
  • Create graphics for ILT themes, company posters, etc.
  • Provide integration with technology resources to stakeholders via the web and provides professional development activities through eLearning instructional modules.
  • Conduct research using online federal regulations, review Medicare and Medicaid policy and guidelines to complete an accurate and well-support decision.
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Instructional designer example responsibilities.

  • Design instructor lead, virtual, and SCORM compliant web base training for a 300 seat inbound customer care department.
  • Manage project development including facilitating all stages of the ADDIE process from analysis to evaluation.
  • Develop PowerPoint presentations to support instructor lead courses and other training documentation including job aids, and business process procedures.
  • Design and development of eLearning and instructor lead courses in a wide area of subjects including leadership development and innovation curriculum.
  • Conduct college-level courses in anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.
  • Develop automotive instructional materials for curriculum interactive distance learning and instructor-le courses using ADDIE model.
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Elearning specialist vs instructional designer skills

Common elearning specialist skills
  • ELearning, 14%
  • Instructional Design, 12%
  • Learning Management System, 10%
  • Subject Matter Experts, 9%
  • HTML, 7%
  • SCORM, 5%
Common instructional designer skills
  • Instructional Design, 9%
  • Subject Matter Experts, 7%
  • Project Management, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • ELearning, 4%
  • Training Programs, 3%

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