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The differences between instructional systems specialists and instructional 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 systems specialist and an instructional designer. Additionally, an instructional designer has an average salary of $57,534, which is higher than the $53,853 average annual salary of an instructional systems specialist.
The top three skills for an instructional systems specialist include instructional materials, learning objectives and training programs. The most important skills for an instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Instructional Systems Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $53,853 | $57,534 |
| Hourly rate | $25.89 | $27.66 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 65,859 | 50,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An instructional systems specialist is responsible for creating instructional materials and coordinating educational content. Typical duties include developing educational and training programs, developing cooperative and constructive working relationships with others, and developing plans and goals to organize and prioritize your work. As an instructional systems specialist, you will guide, direct, and motivate your subordinates and set performance standards. You are also expected to assist students in achieving their academic goals and provide technical expertise on the application and interpretation of automation training standards.
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.
Instructional systems specialists and instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instructional Systems Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $53,853 | $57,534 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $74,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Department of Homeland Security | |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between an instructional systems specialist and an instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Instructional Systems Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between instructional systems specialists' and instructional designers' demographics:
| Instructional Systems Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.0% Female, 46.0% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |