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Job outlook for instructional design specialists in the United States
Instructional design specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected instructional design specialist job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 15,000 new jobs for instructional design specialists are projected over the next decade.
Instructional design specialist salaries have increased 7% for instructional design specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 67,711 instructional design specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 44,814 active instructional design specialist job openings in the US.
The average instructional design specialist salary is $54,282.
Are instructional design specialist jobs in demand?
Instructional design specialist job and salary trends over time
Instructional design specialist jobs over time
Instructional design specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 67,711 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 64,105 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 64,761 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 60,073 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 57,724 | 0.02% |
Average instructional design specialist salary over time
Instructional design specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $54,282 | $26.10 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $53,731 | $25.83 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $52,240 | $25.12 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $51,672 | $24.84 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $50,627 | $24.34 | +0.3% |
Instructional design specialist jobs by state
Most common states for instructional design specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 153 | 22% |
| 2 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 438 | 11% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 686 | 10% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 62 | 10% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 65 | 9% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 107 | 8% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 60 | 8% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 49 | 8% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,876 | 7% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 624 | 7% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 521 | 7% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 511 | 7% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 394 | 7% |
| 14 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 392 | 7% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 242 | 7% |
| 16 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 115 | 7% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 75 | 7% |
| 18 | Delaware | 961,939 | 70 | 7% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 551 | 6% |
| 20 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 380 | 6% |
Most common cities for instructional design specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irvine | 2 | 1% | $57,690 |
| 2 | Gainesville | 1 | 1% | $50,538 |
| 3 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $63,634 |
| 4 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $52,880 |
| 5 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $62,847 |
| 6 | San Antonio | 1 | 0% | $54,450 |
| 7 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $56,915 |
Instructional Design Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of instructional design specialist experts
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Indiana University Bloomington
Robert Morris University
Armstrong State University
Illinois State University
Lamar University
Tennessee Tech University
East Carolina University
Wayne State University
Concordia University, St. Paul
Alverno College
University of Denver
Edgewood College
Nyack College
California State University - Long Beach
The Catholic University of America
Rocky Mountain College
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Rich Miller III: People enjoy the variety of problems encountered and the need for quick thinking, problem-solving, and thinking outside the box. Dislikes include the rapid advancement of technology, which can make it challenging to stay ahead.
What Instructional Design Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rich Miller III: Educational Technology is a booming field that leverages technology to enhance teaching and learning. It allows for the simulation of real-world tasks for students, making them better prepared for the real world.
What will help Instructional Design Specialists increase their earning potential?
Rich Miller III: Ed tech is an all-encompassing field that can involve hands-on support, teaching and learning, project management, installing A/V equipment, and more. No two days are alike, and problem-solving skills are essential.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: While it is important to have specialized knowledge of industry-standard tools such as Articulate, AI, etc., it is more important to understand design-thinking and possess strong problem-solving skills. Understanding and utilizing a design framework is key to the creation of contemporary learning systems.
What Instructional Design Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: Possess a health balance of general design skills and specific tool knowledge. Understand which tools are prevalent by reviewing job descriptions (AI does a great job of this) and augment your skill set. Don't wait for your graduate program to cover every tool; sometimes you have to learn some on your own. Practice presentation and interview skills and look for practicums and internships in your program.
What will help Instructional Design Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Michael Menchaca: Funny you should ask. Artificial Intelligence is not over-hyped even though it may feel that way from the barrage of media and articles about it. If graduates don't at least have a working understanding of AI, especially as it relates to education, then they are behind. I especially advise that ed tech graduates practice prompt engineering and research AI as it relates to their specific areas of interest and expertise. In addition, complex problem-solving and understanding of cognition and neurosciences will be key.
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.
Department Chair of Learning, Design, and Adult Education, LDAE, Associate Professor of Instructional Systems Technology, ISTIndiana University Bloomington
Educational/Instructional Media Design
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Experience may help with maximizing salary potential as one enters the career in my field. Generally, degree programs offer various options for that, e.g., Indiana University has a studio-based option for a residential MS program, or course projects with clients (both in online and residential programs), internships, service learning, being involved in research projects. If a starting job candidate can show evidence from various experiences in their graduation portfolio (website), it may help them maximize the salary potential as they start their career.
What Instructional Design Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Adaptability, flexibility, and being open to continuously learning (after the degree completion). Technology, learning environments, learning needs, and content to be mastered by the learners are constantly changing. The educational technologist has to be open to learn continuously and change and adapt to the changes happening in these areas. Additionally, soft skills such as being a team member and clear communication are very important, as educational technologists work in a team or lead a team.
What will help Instructional Design Specialists increase their earning potential?
Gamze Ozogul Ph.D.: Everyone needs to start somewhere. Learn most from each experience in the field and build your resume, experiences, and skills.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Dr. Richard Fuller: AI is growing and becoming more and more part of the lexicon of teaching and learning in all areas of prek-12, higher education, and corporate training and development. This will need to be understood on both the offensive side, which is using AI as pedagogy as well as the defensive side to combat academic integrity issues. Online teaching and learning, in both synchronous and asynchronous modalities in addition to more traditional f2f methodologies and pedagogies, will become more and more important as Universities look for more sustainable tools. Much was learned during the pandemic lock-down and this knowledge and skill are being used in a post-pandemic world. Keep an open mind to new innovations in curriculum design and different theories and methods to map, align, and develop curriculum. This ever-changing dynamic is grounded, however, in the fundamentals that were learned through your degree. Additionally, stay up on all the technology that is advancing. This is key in the C&I; and the instructional design world. Tech moves very fast and what you know today is outmoded tomorrow. C&I; must stay current and active to assist others through teaching and design. Knowing how to use tech and different software is tantamount to success as an instructional designer or teacher.
What Instructional Design Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Richard Fuller: Be open to opportunities that will present themselves in Prek-12, higher education or corporate training and development. Many places will see the value in hiring employees with the knowledge and skills that come with a Curriculum and Instruction (C&I;) degree and will create positions accordingly. Most organizations see the value of a training and development department with specific uses. Hospitals, k-12 schools, for profit organizations and nonprofit organization incorporate instructional designers with a curriculum and instruction degree. Even higher education (HE) hire instructional designers to work with faculty. HE faculty are subject matter experts but don’t know about instruction or curriculum or how to teach online or in person f2f. They also don’t understand the value or how to design and develop curriculum and transfer that to the classroom. PreK-12 utilize C&I; grads as both trainers and as coordinators of curriculum. This may require an advanced degree (graduate or doctoral), but nonetheless, it is an opportunity and something to think about as you progress through your career. Training and Development is an obvious opportunity in many corporations and organizations as C&I; prepared graduates have a body of knowledge and skills that align with training needs in designing and delivering training for corporate and organizational initiatives in all areas. There are those with a C&I; degree who also hold teaching certificates in some area of Prek-12. This may open other doors for them in teaching in the classroom but with the degree may present additional opportunities in an organization’s administrative capacity or training.
What will help Instructional Design Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Richard Fuller: First, know your value going into an interview. What are you really worth? Do your homework on what the salary range for the role is and the going rate with comparable jobs. Second, maximize your experiences and don’t undersell them on your resume/cv. Without embellishing, state your roles and experience in the best light utilizing wording that truly represents what you have done. Build on the experiences that you had during your undergraduate and graduate degrees (if appropriate). Third, be willing to walk away if they don’t meet your needs not only in salary but also in the role of the job and what you will be doing on a daily basis, with and for whom. If they want you they will come to your needs. Remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. You have power in that this is your life and your job and you need to decide if they are going to meet your needs. Don’t just settle if it is not right. Vet the job out completely and then decide.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Debbie Azevedo Ed.D.: Curriculum and Instruction graduates should embrace technology and stay current with educational trends. The educational field is constantly changing, and graduates can keep up with the latest research and educational technology by attending conferences, subscribing to journals, and attending professional development. Being up to date on the latest educational technology can support graduates in enhancing their learning and streamlining curriculum development.
What will help Instructional Design Specialists increase their earning potential?
Debbie Azevedo Ed.D.: 1. Collaboration with Colleagues and the Community - Graduates will need skills in teamwork and collaborating on curriculum design to create educational experiences supportive and inclusive of all students. 2. Digital Integration - Graduates will integrate digital tools, including artificial intelligence, into their curriculum to enhance student learning. 3. Data Analysis - The skill of collecting and analyzing student data to inform instruction will be essential in improving student outcomes. 4. Personalized Learning Design - The skill of designing curricula to fit students' needs, including adaptive learning technologies and individualized learning paths, will be critical in the next 3-5 years as learning becomes more student-centered.
What Instructional Design Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD: In the coming years, proficiency in educational technology is expected to become increasingly important. Graduates should focus on honing their skills in integrating digital tools into the curriculum, leveraging data for informed decision-making, and staying abreast of advancements in online and blended learning environments. Additionally, addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in education will be crucial for educators to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD: 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.
What will help Instructional Design Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kymberly Harris PhD: In the coming years, proficiency in educational technology is expected to become increasingly important. Graduates should focus on honing their skills in integrating digital tools into the curriculum, leveraging data for informed decision-making, and staying abreast of advancements in online and blended learning environments. Additionally, addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in education will be crucial for educators to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Anthony Piña Ed.D.: If you have not done so already, become active in professional associations that align to your career interests. Attend (and consider presenting at) their professional conferences. This will be a source of professional development, networking, and future employment opportunities. Look for opportunities to gain practical experience-even as a volunteer. For example, if you have an interest in instructional design, you may check out Designers for Learning (designersforlearning.org), which can match you with service-learning opportunities. You should become familiar with the instructional designer competencies from the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (ibstpi.org) and work on those in which you might have less training or experience.
What Instructional Design Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anthony Piña Ed.D.: Educational Technology is a very broad field with practitioners in various work settings and with differing emphases and responsibilities. Ultimately, potential employers of both full-timers and consultants will want to now 1) what you can do and 2) what you have done. Depending upon your career emphasis, you can: 1) spend some time with trial software and tutorials to gain expertise in specific applications; 2) co-author articles and co-present at conferences to build up your name recognition and credentials; 3) see if colleagues will allow you to participate in their projects: 4) do not pass up opportunities to work-even if it is low-paid or volunteer with non-profits, civic groups, etc. to build your experience and resume--so many of these lead to future jobs.
What will help Instructional Design Specialists increase their earning potential?
Anthony Piña Ed.D.: Working with and leading people-including managing conflict-is undertaught in our current ed tech programs. Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning will continue to rise in importance. Those going into industry (and increasingly in academe) are expected to have skills in multimedia/video production and interactive authoring, e.g., Articulate, Adobe Captivate. Of course, an ed tech professional will be expected to be up-to-speed in the use and affordances of AI.
Dr. Johnny O'Connor Ph.D.
Iinterim Department Chair and Assistant professorLamar University
Department of Education Leadership
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Design Specialists?
Dr. Johnny O'Connor Ph.D.: Over the last two years, the role of a Curriculum and Instruction professional in PK - 12 settings has quickly evolved. While technology continues to be a fundamental part of curriculum and instructional practices, the emergence of COVID-19 has further solidified the relevance of technology in education, as virtual learning environments have been added to the academic offerings of many schools. Furthermore, in addition to having a deep knowledge of research-based curriculum and instructional strategies and the ability to utilize data to inform curriculum and instructional decisions, C&I professionals should now be prepared to demonstrate contemporary knowledge and understanding of instructional tools and practices within a virtual environment. This skill will become even more important as schools adapt to what has been termed as the "new normal" in education.
What skills will help Instructional Design Specialists earn the most?
Dr. Johnny O'Connor Ph.D.: In most professions, those that offer the most value to an organization earn more. Careers in curriculum and instruction are no exception. The skill level and experience of C&I professionals can vary widely. Nonetheless, only the most well qualified can demand top pay. C&I professionals with the following qualifications can expect to earn more than their less qualified peers:
-Advanced degrees in Curriculum/Instruction and/or Educational Leadership (i.e., M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.)
-Experience with online instructional tools and learning platforms
-Experience developing and facilitating large scale professional development
-Knowledge and experience with curriculum and instruction in multiple content areas
-Experience as an instructional coach
-Ability to design, interpret and implement various models of response to intervention
-Previous leadership role in curriculum and instruction
-Ability to create and design customized curriculum
-Expertise in supporting the curriculum and instruction needs of multiple student groups
-5+ years successful teaching experience in a core subject area
What skills stand out on Instructional Design Specialist resumes?
Jeremy Wendt: Currently, an in-depth understanding of hybrid and online learning is the most valuable skill set for curriculum or instructional design positions. There are always baseline expectations for curricular development that any qualified candidate will learn through coursework or hands-on experience. However, layering in the ever-changing and evolving online learning environment creates a void in the skillset of the typical curriculum designer or educator.
What soft skills should all Instructional Design Specialists possess?
Jeremy Wendt: Job candidates must always consider their impact and role on a team. Communication and interaction with a team and organizational hierarchy will continue to be vital regardless of the in-person or online nature of a job. Software and hardware advances have enabled workers to continue as productive employees, but positive human interaction is still the most important soft skill. All companies have routines, expectations, and identities that are unique to the company. Understanding your skills, personality, and expertise in the context of the organization will contribute to the success of the company and your career.
What skills will help Instructional Design Specialists earn the most?
Jeremy Wendt: Flexible, adaptable, and confident job candidates are the most desirable. These abilities will create agility in a workplace, especially if the employees are always willing to grow, refine, and rebuild their skillset. Setting goals for the future, but adapting to change when it takes place, will always create unique opportunities for advancement and progress.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Design Specialists?
Jeremy Wendt: The tech skills needed in any curricular environment vary by industry. Within a K-12 school system, educational technologies are widely applied and help manage assignments, grades, attendance, and engage students. Instructional designers will find more technical software that is specific to the organization but will be designed to help employees build curriculum efficiently and effectively. In either case, foundational technology courses are ideal for baseline knowledge, and professional development through conferences and networking will enhance the skillset for a career.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Design Specialists?
Todd Finley Ph.D.: Knowing how to leverage technology in the classroom is a critical curriculum specialist disposition--especially given the COVID-19 landscape when schools might go online again. It's not enough that the curriculum specialist knows about education technology; they also have to help teachers scaffold tech use by students.
What skills will help Instructional Design Specialists earn the most?
Todd Finley Ph.D.: As in any profession, the skill most useful for earning more is the ability to enhance the effectiveness and bolster the emotions of everyone around you. This often involves positively reframing sticky situations. Given that teaching is an emotionally intensive profession, that last skill is super important.
What skills stand out on Instructional Design Specialist resumes?
Todd Finley Ph.D.: Curriculum specialists should be fluent in appraising and conducting research, both qualitative and quantitative. This is because classroom professionals are often tasked with making data-informed instructional decisions. They should also be up-to-date in reading new research on the brain and high-impact practices.
What soft skills should all Instructional Design Specialists possess?
Todd Finley Ph.D.: Being able to read the social contexts of different schools and classrooms is critical for curriculum specialists. With strong interpersonal skills, they should be able to critique classroom instruction without causing the teacher to feel threatened. They should also be able to read when students are simply being compliant instead of actually engaged by a rich curriculum. Finally, a spirit of generosity needs to be the curriculum specialist's ethos instead of applying a deficit mindset to a teacher's abilities.
Dr. Leah Ketcheson
Assistant Professor, Health and Physical Education Teaching (H-PET)Wayne State University
Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Design Specialists?
Dr. Leah Ketcheson: Keeping the delivery of content up to date with multiple forms of representation. Students must digest content in various ways, such as through presentations, videos, discussion boards, etc.
What skills will help Instructional Design Specialists earn the most?
Dr. Leah Ketcheson: Hard work, resiliency, and creativity.
What skills stand out on Instructional Design Specialist resumes?
Dr. Leah Ketcheson: Flexibility with the delivery of course content. We like to feel confident our instructors are ready to teach online, in person, or in a hybrid model.
Dr. Barbara Wissink
Associate Professor of Education, Program Chair: Master of Education: with an Emphasis in Literacy with the additional MN K-12 Reading EndorsementConcordia University, St. Paul
Graduate Teacher Education
What skills stand out on Instructional Design Specialist resumes?
Dr. Barbara Wissink: First and foremost, the candidate needs to have the required credentials in the specific curriculum area they seek to become specialized in. For example, if a candidate was interested in becoming a literacy coach or reading specialist, they would need to highlight the specific license, endorsement, or certificate required in their state. This means that the candidate needs to research their state's specialist requirements before committing to a graduate program, ensuring that they will have the correct credentials when they complete the program.
What soft skills should all Instructional Design Specialists possess?
Dr. Barbara Wissink: Two soft skills really stand out at this time in the school settings: adaptability and coachability. By adaptability, curriculum and instruction specialists must modify the curriculum and instruction based on the students' needs and the instructional delivery model. During the COVID-19 pandemic, specialists had to learn to adapt their instruction and curricula to ensure that distance learning was relevant and meaningful for their students. In addition, many specialists also were charged with mentoring teachers who were facing the same challenges of creating a meaningful distance learning experience for their students.
Secondly, curriculum and instruction specialists need to be coachable. This soft skill proved necessary during the pandemic, as specialists needed to expand their existing instructional style and learn new ways of delivering content to the students and teachers they interact with in the in-person, distance learning, and hybrid modalities.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Design Specialists?
Dr. Barbara Wissink: For curriculum and instructional specialists, having the right credentials is essential. For example, a literacy specialist needs to have a strong foundation in K-12 literacy provided by an accredited graduate school program. After completing the graduate program, most states require testing to add the specialist license or endorsement to the candidate's initial teaching license.
In addition, a strong understanding of assessment and experience in data analysis will ensure that the candidate can utilize the testing results to discern the best instructional plan for the students they are serving. Curriculum and instruction specialists often mentor and coach K-12 teachers on utilizing their students' assessment data to improve their teaching.
Desiree Pointer Mac Ph.D.
Professor of Education, Director of Graduate Education ProgramsAlverno College
School of Professional Studies, Education Division
What skills stand out on Instructional Design Specialist resumes?
Desiree Pointer Mac Ph.D.: Based on my experience creating and advising others in creating educator preparation programs in the United States, Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru, I believe that the skills that stand out on International Curriculum Specialist resumes highlight outcomes that are not context-specific, but that transcend country- or culture-bound educational contexts. The model of Alverno College (http://alverno.edu) provides one internationally-renowned example of how to do this - it highlights that well-prepared educators, including those charged with developing curricula, should be adept in five advanced educational abilities, which incorporate soft skills and hard/technical skills within the knowledge, skills, and dispositions therein.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instructional Design Specialists?
Desiree Pointer Mac Ph.D.: They also must have the ability to diagnose, which indicates that they are observant, inquiring, creating assessments and reflecting on their data, and posing new questions as part of a reflective practitioner cycle of inquiry. They must have the ability to coordinate, which means that they can arrange time, space, personal resources, digital environments, and processes effectively so that people can learn most effectively. And lastly, they must have the ability of inclusive interaction, through which they convey passion for their professional work, advocacy for the people they serve, humility in their own learning, curiosity about what they have yet to learn, and the desire to collaborate with communities of practice. Related to all of these, specific technical skills can come into play, especially as identified first by Punya Mishra in conceptualizing "technological pedagogical content knowledge." The technical skills are in service to the pedagogical purposes.
What soft skills should all Instructional Design Specialists possess?
Desiree Pointer Mac Ph.D.: For example, an international curriculum specialist should have the ability to conceptualize, which is to say, they deeply understand the relevant content and learning theory required. In this case, an international curriculum specialist should be widely and deeply read in curriculum theory, current research, and the key debates across contexts. But if we are merely knowledgeable or adept in conceptualization ability alone, we lack other essential abilities. Educators must also have the ability to communicate, that is, to speak clearly, listen effectively, be attentive to subtle non-verbal cues, be responsive to cultural nuance, and be adept in the use of technology to facilitate all of the above.
What's a day at work look like for an Instructional Design Specialist?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: This is a great unknown. Their experience will be dependent on the ever-changing work force and their ability to adapt and innovate.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Instructional Design Specialists?
Maria Salazar Ph.D.: Our graduates will experience positive and negative impacts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Our graduates, like many other across the world, are facing a changing work force that must adapt in real time. Our graduates must be flexible, open, and innovative in order to thrive in the current work force. Our graduates are also dealing with looking after their physical and mental well-being, and that of their loved ones. This puts added pressure on graduates to navigate a changing world, while maintaining mental and physical health. Our graduates have learned how to use technology in new ways for online teaching and learning. They have learned from the challenges and successes they have experienced navigating online environments, and they will use this knowledge to make teaching and learning more powerful. Last, our graduates have become more aware of inequities, such as education and health disparities, that have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. They emerge as relentless advocates for marginalized communities.
Dr. Tom Holub Ph.D.
Director of Curriculum & InstructionEdgewood College
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instructional Design Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Tom Holub Ph.D.: From my vantage point, and the research we are engaging in, it is clear that emotional wellness has been, and will continue to become, a major issue in society. The wide-ranging concerns for emotional and mental health cross lines of all demographics. Specialist, interventionists and therapists will be needed for children and adults post-pandemic. The specialization of needs, for example in adolescent interaction with the pandemic, will further complicate our nation's critical needs in this area. To this end, the opportunities for employment will grow in our field and the benfits of high quality training programs will become a priority.
How have salaries changed over time for Instructional Design Specialists?
Dr. Tom Holub Ph.D.: There has been great stability in the field, with salaries increasing over time. The new and improved alliances with insurance companies have eased some pressure that families have felt. Previously, in many cases, families did not seek out the assistance of a certified RPSE because of the hourly fees. More contemporarily insurance coverage has made this access much better. The efficacy of our interventions is increased when families do not have deep-seated worries about paying for these necessary services.
What technical skills for an Instructional Design Specialist stand out to employers?
David Emanuel Ph.D.: I think employers are especially looking out for students that have acquired strong technical skills along with their major. Graduates with knowledge of Zoom, GoogleMeets, social media, etc., are more likely to impress employers. Here, it is not just the ability to use existing technological platforms, but also the willingness to learn and adapt to new technological changes in the workplace. Along with the newer applications, a sound knowledge of basic programs such as MS Word and Excel also helps to distinguish students.
Anonymous Professor
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Anonymous Professor : Getting a degree in Africana Studies or any other similar major (e.g., Ethnic Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, etc.), is no different from getting a degree in any other Arts & Sciences department, in the sense that it provides a strong liberal arts education, but in an interdisciplinary field, that provides an additional lens for studying the same things students study in "traditional" academic disciplines.
Students with these degrees graduate college with the same career options available to them as those graduating from any other Arts and Science degree. Some go to graduate or professional school, others enter the labor market across a variety of fields, including finance.
What's a good job out of college for Instructional Design Specialists?
Anonymous Professor : A good first job out of college is one that pays enough to cover expenses and save, but also makes you happy. It might also further your educational experience by providing real-world experience and helping young adults refine their goals and aspirations. What that looks like "on the ground" is different for everyone.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instructional Design Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Many employees have trouble pivoting to online work so in the short term, tech support and instructional design jobs are in high demand. Data privacy and security are also hot topics and need ed tech expertise. Tech maintenance, including cloud services and networks, continue to be needed, rather like car maintenance. Thinking forward, software development is another area of need, particularly with more online-based education. If grads have data analytics expertise, they can find jobs on data management and learning analytics.
Disabilities continue to be an issue, particularly in terms of equity, so jobs dealing with assistive technology and other ed tech supports are possible. Finally, grads should broaden their concept of educational settings; informal education is more important than ever: in business/HR, libraries and museums, recreational and youth-serving clubs, mass media, government and non-profit agencies. All of these entities are involved in training, outreach, PR, and public awareness/education. Be creative and persistent.
Agnes Cave Ph.D.
Chair, Director of Teacher Education, Coordinator, Master's in Learning and Instruction, Coordinator, Elementary Education, Associate Professor of EducationThe Catholic University of America
Department of Education
What Instructional Design Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Agnes Cave Ph.D.: a. Students in general need more support in a virtual classroom. Those students who have exceptionalities or other needs, such as English Language Learners, need even more scaffolding and assistance. Differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all students including those with special needs or ELL learners is one of the most important and also most difficult skills to learn to implement with real students in a real classroom. Differentiating instruction for all learners in a virtual environment is probably the most challenging task that the majority of teachers have not been prepared for intentionally.
b. Teachers must use assessment data to inform their instruction. Today, we have access to more and more data, so the new skill that teachers have to learn is working with, managing, and analyzing big data in order to understand trends in their students' learning.
c. As I mentioned before, becoming a proficient end user of technology platforms is now a basic skill, the foundation upon which differentiation and all other aspects of teaching rest. Thus, learning more technology including apps, programs, and platforms has become an essential skill that teachers can learn about in their formal and informal professional development. For example, it's not enough to be able to use Zoom and allow all parties to be able to share their screens, the teacher will have to be very good at using the Zoom breakout room feature without a glitch. It's also important to learn to troubleshoot technical glitches.
d. In our ever-evolving, exponentially growing technological society, new technology appears daily. It's important to explore, identify, evaluate, and adopt new digital resources and tools for learning and instruction. I recommend reading useful sources of educational technology and its use in the classroom. It's not enough though to learn about learning apps. Teachers must also learn how to use these learning apps (e.g., Duolingo), programs (e.g., Literably for reading levels), and platforms (e.g. Kahn Academy) to their advantage in the classroom; for instance, for flipping the classroom to create more time for meaningful learning in person and on the screen.
e. Ethical and legal questions have always abound in the field of education, but recently more and more topics require ethical decision making and legal knowledge. Teachers and educator preparation candidates should make sure that they familiarize themselves with topics, such as privacy in online instruction; safe, ethical and legal practice of digital media and tools; protection of intellectual rights and property; management of personal data and digital identity; and protection of student data privacy.
f. Teachers and educator preparation candidates looking for employment will also have to learn how to present themselves virtually to employers, so I recommend practicing interviewing skills by themselves on HandShake, an interviewing platform offered by universities or practice with a career expert at their University Career Center.
g. Good teachers are life-long learners. They continue upskilling and learning more about their content by reading textbooks, primary sources, and literature - but it's not sufficient to read only research literature, it's essential to read high-quality literature! Teachers should also stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences. In order to keep up with the latest research findings, I recommend that teachers read research articles of effective teaching strategies in their content area.
h. How and where can future teachers practice if they are not in the classroom? They can always find students who need help. Students can be family members, friends' children, neighbors, or school children whose parents look for paid or unpaid additional support. Thus I recommend tutoring students in the age group educator preparation candidates are learning to teach. Even after multiple field experiences in practica and student teaching, more practice is always useful, especially in a virtual environment. Practice teaching online (especially alternative ways of delivering hands-on activities for students of all ages) and implementing behavior management techniques for young online learners.
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Design Specialist?
Agnes Cave Ph.D.: a. Start professional networking now (e.g., on LinkedIn).
b. Reach out to principals to introduce yourself and inquire about job opportunities. If you are able to, offer to tutor a few students to be able to learn more about the school and give them the opportunity to learn about you.
c. Think strategically about your teaching career
-Do you first want to go to grad school? If yes, in what area?
-Do you want to start teaching? In what type of school? Reach out to alumni of your program to establish relationships and ask professional questions. Introduce yourself and see if they can also put in a good word for you or help you get an interview.
-Until you are hired, are you interested in teaching students in pods during the pandemic or in the summer? Teaching in pods provides great practice and a decent income until you can get a full-time job.
d. Important skills for teachers in the classroom (besides all aspects of teaching)
-Flexibility, adaptability to change
-Time management and prioritization
-Collaboration with others
-Effective oral and written communication
-Interest in innovation and creativity
-Ethics and legal matters, moral code in teaching
Precious McKenzie Ph.D.
Associate Professor of EnglishRocky Mountain College
Division Chair for Humanities & Fine Arts
What skills stand out on Instructional Design Specialist resumes?
Precious McKenzie Ph.D.: Employers in the United States and in Europe look for tech skills (database skills, Excel, Adobe and such), but they also acknowledge that they can train employees on how to use technology. What employers cannot teach are skills such as critical thinking and communication, including writing and public speaking. I firmly believe that if a college student majors or minors in English, this will set them apart from the competition in the job market. I have talked with scientists, engineers, and business people who bemoan the fact that professionals in their fields have difficulty with writing, researching, and public speaking. My advice: pick up a minor in English. It will serve you well. In the interest of full disclosure, I am an English professor.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Instructional Design Specialists to find work opportunities?
Precious McKenzie Ph.D.: The larger cities seem to have more opportunities available, places such as Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis; yet, there are opportunities in smaller towns across the U.S. The questions then become personal: do you want to work for a large corporation or a smaller one? Are you willing to relocate? Regarding specific industries, engineering seems to remain strong as does healthcare, software engineering, and digital media. Education is seeing massive changes because of COVID-19. Quite a few of my undergraduate students in the field of English go on to law school.