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Instructional designer and trainer vs training consultant

The differences between instructional designer and trainers and training consultants 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 designer and trainer and a training consultant. Additionally, an instructional designer and trainer has an average salary of $65,072, which is higher than the $56,760 average annual salary of a training consultant.

The top three skills for an instructional designer and trainer include instructional design, subject matter experts and blended learning. The most important skills for a training consultant are training programs, training materials, and training sessions.

Instructional designer and trainer vs training consultant overview

Instructional Designer And TrainerTraining Consultant
Yearly salary$65,072$56,760
Hourly rate$31.28$27.29
Growth rate7%8%
Number of jobs70,22252,054
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does an instructional designer and trainer do?

Instructional designers are in charge of redesigning the courses, developing the entire curriculum, and creating all instructional mediums, including handouts, presentation materials, participant guides, and job aids. They typically evaluate training, as well as assess what was learned and check if learning solutions led to quantifiable behavior improvements. Also, the design and rebuild both new and traditional learning models. Additionally, they execute feedback from program reviews, teach others how to convey the learning material, and research new changes in both learning design and education.

What does a training consultant do?

A training consultant's job is to prepare, evaluate, and execute an organization's employee education programs. Their duties and responsibilities may include developing instructional materials, identifying knowledge and skills gaps, and organizing learning activities. Other duties include selecting educational methods such as online courses and on-the-job coaching, organizing management training, and assessing the impact of this training on employee performance. The skills and qualifications for this role include a bachelor's degree in human resources management or a relevant field, previous work experience as a training consultant, and knowledge of learning management software.

Instructional designer and trainer vs training consultant salary

Instructional designer and trainers and training consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Instructional Designer And TrainerTraining Consultant
Average salary$65,072$56,760
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $87,000Between $38,000 And $84,000
Highest paying CityGermantown, MDNewark, NJ
Highest paying stateConnecticutNew Jersey
Best paying companyAppleVirtusa
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between instructional designer and trainer and training consultant education

There are a few differences between an instructional designer and trainer and a training consultant in terms of educational background:

Instructional Designer And TrainerTraining Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Instructional designer and trainer vs training consultant demographics

Here are the differences between instructional designer and trainers' and training consultants' demographics:

Instructional Designer And TrainerTraining Consultant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 42.5% Female, 57.5%Male, 48.1% Female, 51.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage16%12%

Differences between instructional designer and trainer and training consultant duties and responsibilities

Instructional designer and trainer example responsibilities.

  • Develop PowerPoint presentations to support instructor lead courses and other training documentation including job aids, and business process procedures.
  • Work with clients through all ISD phases to ensure customer needs are met.
  • Coordinate and execute changes to existing ISD products using analysis and change criteria.
  • Utilize a variety of communication venues: email, SharePoint web portal pages, and hard copies.
  • Interview SMEs to establish technical specifications for document development.
  • Research instructional technology trends, implement multimedia enhancements, update HTML coding.
  • Show more

Training consultant example responsibilities.

  • Lead training of enlist, officer, and warrant officer troops as well as DoD civilians.
  • Used Microsoft SharePoint, as an administrator, to store, manage, and electronically publish all documents.
  • Lead the migration of documents from windows explorer to a web-base document management software and coordinate training for staff.
  • Manage SharePoint governance with the use of site policies, record management, information management policies and configuring the content organizer.
  • Manage staff to evaluate emerging technologies, database and data storage strategies and develop training strategies and curriculum designs.
  • Provide technical writing support for ISD.
  • Show more

Instructional designer and trainer vs training consultant skills

Common instructional designer and trainer skills
  • Instructional Design, 8%
  • Subject Matter Experts, 7%
  • Blended Learning, 5%
  • Training Programs, 5%
  • Training Materials, 5%
  • Led Training, 4%
Common training consultant skills
  • Training Programs, 11%
  • Training Materials, 7%
  • Training Sessions, 5%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Training Courses, 4%
  • Training Delivery, 3%

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