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Job outlook for instructional systems specialists in the United States
Instructional systems specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected instructional systems specialist job growth rate is 7% from 2018-2028.
About 15,000 new jobs for instructional systems specialists are projected over the next decade.
Instructional systems specialist salaries have increased 7% for instructional systems specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 7,615 instructional systems specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 65,859 active instructional systems specialist job openings in the US.
The average instructional systems specialist salary is $53,853.
Are instructional systems specialist jobs in demand?
Instructional systems specialist job and salary trends over time
Instructional systems specialist jobs over time
Instructional systems specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,615 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 7,209 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,283 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,756 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 6,492 | 0.00% |
Average instructional systems specialist salary over time
Instructional systems specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,853 | $25.89 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $53,306 | $25.63 | +2.9% |
| 2024 | $51,827 | $24.92 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $51,264 | $24.65 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $50,226 | $24.15 | +0.3% |
Instructional systems specialist jobs by state
Most common states for instructional systems specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 132 | 17% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 129 | 17% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 108 | 17% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 216 | 16% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 143 | 16% |
| 6 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 95 | 16% |
| 7 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 289 | 14% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 267 | 14% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 149 | 14% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 927 | 13% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 538 | 13% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 123 | 13% |
| 13 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 90 | 13% |
| 14 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 822 | 12% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 199 | 12% |
| 16 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 122 | 12% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 623 | 11% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 342 | 11% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 371 | 10% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 130 | 10% |
Most common cities for instructional systems specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Chicago | 2 | 7% | $61,583 |
| 2 | Newport | 1 | 4% | $56,709 |
| 3 | Pensacola | 1 | 2% | $50,250 |
| 4 | Chula Vista | 2 | 1% | $58,410 |
| 5 | Huntsville | 1 | 1% | $55,718 |
| 6 | Rockville | 1 | 1% | $63,526 |
| 7 | Tucson | 2 | 0% | $45,321 |
| 8 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $52,068 |
| 9 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $63,866 |
| 10 | Norfolk | 1 | 0% | $75,704 |
| 11 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $45,917 |
Instructional Systems Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of instructional systems specialist experts
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Indiana University Bloomington
Robert Morris University
Armstrong State University
Illinois State University
Wayne State University
Shippensburg University
What general advice would you give to an Instructional Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Instructional Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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 Systems 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. Leah Ketcheson
Assistant Professor, Health and Physical Education Teaching (H-PET)Wayne State University
Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies
What skills will help Instructional Systems Specialists earn the most?
Dr. Leah Ketcheson: Hard work, resiliency, and creativity.
What experience really stands out on Instructional Systems Specialist resumes?
Dr. Lynn Baynum Ph.D.: Today's educators are entering a workforce that will forever be impacted by the instructional adaptations tested and adapted during COVID. Teacher candidates looking for employment must enhance their college experiences to reflect the current and future educational climate, including showcasing professional experiences related to technology integration in teaching and learning. Teacher candidates should include certifications or endorsements sponsored by organizations and agencies, such as Google Classroom and/or learning management systems like Canvas. Accounting for such training demonstrates to school district employers that teacher candidates are well prepared for adapting typical face-to-face instruction within an online format.
Teacher candidates with expansive resumes typically reflect a balance of college-level requirements and student-led experiences. Employers typically look for teachers who have had experience working or volunteering in child and adolescent related organizations. Although at home, child care is often typical on teacher candidates' resumes, future teachers should seek employment in before- and after-school agencies or programs sponsored by school districts. Also, employers recognize civic-minded, future teachers' benefits from volunteering in community lead agencies such as food banks, homeless shelters, and athletic coaching opportunities.
What Instructional Systems Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Lynn Baynum Ph.D.: A gap year is typically seen as an opportunity to expand a worldview, yet many teacher candidates do not have the opportunity to study abroad. This should not preclude a future teacher from taking time to expand his/her knowledge and skills in relation to cultural and economic constructs that influence teaching and learning. One way to do so is to enroll in language courses or to work/volunteer in socio-culturally sponsored initiatives. Emersion is key to optimizing the gap year so that the teacher candidates can examine a cultural landscape. Perspective-taking can also break down biased beliefs.
For example, a teacher candidate who volunteers to work in a homeless shelter would begin to understand the factors that impact academic success. Also, teacher candidates can volunteer or work in urban settings with English Language Learners to better understand language acquisition. Fluency in a second language is not required in teacher training, yet conversational understanding of a second language helps a teacher candidate to not only communicate in that language, but also to empathize with English Language Learners. Knowledge of these factors (language acquisition, poverty, equity) enables teacher candidates to not only reflect on learners' needs but also to learn how to advocate for support. In addition, teacher candidates can become well versed in the service agencies aligned with community wellness and safety. In fact, teacher candidates can enroll in such programs as Youth First Aid Mental Health Training and QPR Training (Question, Persuade, Refer) to better recognize links between cognitive and social-emotional development.