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The differences between instructional coordinators and curriculum specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an instructional coordinator and a curriculum specialist. Additionally, a curriculum specialist has an average salary of $50,949, which is higher than the $48,344 average annual salary of an instructional coordinator.
The top three skills for an instructional coordinator include curriculum development, instructional materials and student learning. The most important skills for a curriculum specialist are math, curriculum development, and K-12.
| Instructional Coordinator | Curriculum Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,344 | $50,949 |
| Hourly rate | $23.24 | $24.49 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 25,255 | 1,583 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Instructional coordinators, also called curriculum specialists, are responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing different instructional and educational material within the educational system. They work closely with the principal or school head to determine the effectiveness of materials, teaching methods, and techniques teachers use in following the school policies and guidelines. Also, they observe and evaluate their teachers and students, and they discuss the school's curriculum.
The primary job of curriculum specialists is to develop, assess, and improve curricula and instruction. They are responsible for guiding teachers on their teaching methods, conducting research and making recommendations for improvements, and evaluating existing curricula alongside teachers and administrators. A curriculum specialist is expected to assist in creating and revising instructional materials, analyzing student data, and evaluating and improving the utilization of classroom materials. You are also responsible for finding appropriate curricula and textbooks to improve the student body's learning outcomes.
Instructional coordinators and curriculum specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instructional Coordinator | Curriculum Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,344 | $50,949 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $67,000 | Between $36,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Apple | AARP |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an instructional coordinator and a curriculum specialist in terms of educational background:
| Instructional Coordinator | Curriculum Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between instructional coordinators' and curriculum specialists' demographics:
| Instructional Coordinator | Curriculum Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.6% Female, 59.4% | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.5% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 5.4% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |