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What is an instructional design specialist and how to become one
The Instructional Design Specialist is an individual tasked with using advanced technology to design teaching materials and learning environments. His/Her job is to cater to the needs of students from elementary to college. He/She collaborates with different experts and organizations to develop innovative learning materials. Additionally, he/she conducts research when necessary to develop courses and curriculum that would optimize learning.
The educational requirements for the position of an instructional design specialist vary by employer. Higher education, private and government agencies require applicants to have a bachelor's degree, while public schools require a master's degree. Public schools also require licenses and certifications and at least three years of experience in curriculum design. Instructional design specialists must be able to communicate, strategize, make decisions, and work with a diverse group. They must also be proficient in learning management systems. An Instructional Design Specialist makes an average salary of $71,778 per year.
What general advice would you give to an instructional design specialist?
Mary Collins
Professor, Creative Writing/Nonfiction, Program Coordinator, Writing Minors, Career/Internship Advisor, Central Connecticut State University
Avg. Salary $54,282
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 7%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.75%
Asian 5.47%
Black or African American 10.93%
Hispanic or Latino 16.91%
Unknown 4.14%
White 61.80%
Genderfemale 58.63%
male 41.37%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Instructional design specialist career paths
Key steps to become an instructional design specialist
Explore instructional design specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific instructional design specialist skills
Skills Percentages Instructional Design 10.82% Subject Matter Experts 6.90% PowerPoint 5.20% Training Programs 4.29% Learning Management System 4.25% Complete relevant instructional design specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New instructional design specialists 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 instructional design specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real instructional design specialist resumes.Research instructional design specialist duties and responsibilities
- Design instructor lead, virtual, and SCORM compliant web base training for a 300 seat inbound customer care department.
- Create PowerPoint training with handouts for small classroom workshops.
- Lead ISS for revision and development of database lesson plans.
- Create media for online courses using Camtasia and in-house storyboarding tool.
Prepare your instructional design specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your instructional design specialist resume.
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Build a professional instructional design specialist 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 instructional design specialist resume.
Apply for instructional design specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an instructional design specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first instructional design specialist job
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Average instructional design specialist salary
The average instructional design specialist salary in the United States is $54,282 per year or $26 per hour. Instructional design specialist salaries range between $39,000 and $74,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do instructional design specialists rate their job?
Instructional design specialist reviews
First of all, i'll say that i like the routine. I have had amazing health benefits because of waking up early and go to school because i live quite far. In the school, i like the working mechanism and how everyone is committed and dedicated for the job. The most important thing i like is that how i am able to make my place in the room of young, enthusiast children who see me as their mentor. I love being the change maker and i's always love to be a professional learning specialist because this is what angels would do.
Updated January 8, 2025
