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What is an instructional developer/designer and how to become one
Learning is the key to knowledge. However, creating an effective training or educational program is no simple task. Instructional developers or designers are the ones to ensure this happens. They use their mastery of learning design and technology to create effective learning courses and materials. They frequently identify performance and skills gaps of a targeted audience, and then select or create learning experiences that close that gap.
Some tasks they perform include designing instructional materials and programs by assessing customer-training needs, defining training goals and objectives, determining appropriate training delivery methods, recommending course delivery strategies, and developing and modifying course content as needed.
Key skills needed for this job include creativity, flexibility, problem-solving, and resilience. Since instructional designers must assume a high level of responsibilities and requirements, a master's degree is typically preferred. In some cases, instructional designers may also be required to have advanced education in a particular subject matter area.
What general advice would you give to an instructional developer/designer?
Anthony Piña Ed.D.
Chief Online Learning Officer/Director of Online Education, Illinois State University
Avg. Salary $61,258
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 10.16%
Hispanic or Latino 16.90%
Unknown 4.02%
White 62.70%
Genderfemale 50.97%
male 49.03%
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 developer/designer career paths
Key steps to become an instructional developer/designer
Explore instructional developer/designer education requirements
Start to develop specific instructional developer/designer skills
Skills Percentages Subject Matter Experts 7.73% Instructional Design 7.64% Blended Learning 4.95% Project Management 4.64% ELearning 4.54% Complete relevant instructional developer/designer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 2-4 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New instructional developer/designers 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 developer/designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real instructional developer/designer resumes.Research instructional developer/designer duties and responsibilities
- Lead the virtualization of military training exercises and provide periods of instruction using virtual simulations.
- Assess needs and create eLearning modules specific to learning objectives, always ensuring compliance with educational requirements and guidelines.
- Assist SME in updating PowerPoint presentation relate to the content.
- Design, develop, and program online courses using HTML editor Dreamweaver.
Prepare your instructional developer/designer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your instructional developer/designer resume.
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Choose from 10+ customizable instructional developer/designer resume templates
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Apply for instructional developer/designer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an instructional developer/designer 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 developer/designer job
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Average instructional developer/designer salary
The average instructional developer/designer salary in the United States is $61,258 per year or $29 per hour. Instructional developer/designer salaries range between $43,000 and $85,000 per year.
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Updated January 8, 2025
