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The differences between instructional technology 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 technology specialist and an instructional designer. Additionally, an instructional designer has an average salary of $57,534, which is higher than the $43,402 average annual salary of an instructional technology specialist.
The top three skills for an instructional technology specialist include classroom management, instructional technology and curriculum development. The most important skills for an instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $43,402 | $57,534 |
| Hourly rate | $20.87 | $27.66 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 61,365 | 50,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An instructional technology specialist is an expert who is responsible for creating and developing software applications and modern technology. They usually create and develop training materials and teach students how they can install and use various computer applications and other related technologies. Typically, this career is for someone who has extensive knowledge in the information technologies, knows how to resolve technical issues a computer or device usually encounters, and has experience with computer programs and languages.
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 technology specialists and instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $43,402 | $57,534 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Smith College | |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between an instructional technology specialist and an instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between instructional technology specialists' and instructional designers' demographics:
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.1% 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% |