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The differences between instructional designers and curriculum 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 instructional designer and a curriculum designer. Additionally, an instructional designer has an average salary of $57,534, which is higher than the $54,176 average annual salary of a curriculum designer.
The top three skills for an instructional designer include instructional design, subject matter experts and project management. The most important skills for a curriculum designer are subject matter experts, course content, and project management.
| Instructional Designer | Curriculum Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $57,534 | $54,176 |
| Hourly rate | $27.66 | $26.05 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 50,321 | 44,751 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An instructional designer focuses on devising learning materials and content to aid every students' learning difficulties. These can include videos, books, and presentations. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis to identify the needs of students, crafting learning strategies in collaboration with experts. They are also responsible for developing tools and materials to help assess every students' progress, such as quizzes and examinations. Furthermore, an instructional designer needs to coordinate with all personnel involved with the project to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
A curriculum designer creates and implements educational programs in schools, colleges, and other organizations that offer training and educational services. They usually work with teachers and academic administrators in establishing guidelines, academic roadmaps, and policies. A curriculum designer is also responsible for creating lesson plans and learning materials, conducting research and assessments, establishing curriculum timelines, and analyzing feedback from students, teachers, and administrators. They also monitor the students' academic progress to be able to make curriculum adjustments or changes when necessary.
Instructional designers and curriculum designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instructional Designer | Curriculum Designer | |
| Average salary | $57,534 | $54,176 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $79,000 | Between $38,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Edelman Financial Engines | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Insurance |
There are a few differences between an instructional designer and a curriculum designer in terms of educational background:
| Instructional Designer | Curriculum Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Elementary Education |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between instructional designers' and curriculum designers' demographics:
| Instructional Designer | Curriculum Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |