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The differences between instructional technology specialists and senior 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 a senior instructional designer. Additionally, a senior instructional designer has an average salary of $68,140, 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 a senior instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $43,402 | $68,140 |
| Hourly rate | $20.87 | $32.76 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 61,365 | 47,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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.
A senior instructional designer specializes in developing instructional and educational materials for a specific group of individuals, including children and adults. Their duties involve working together with the clients in identifying project needs and requirements, collaborating with experts, conducting research and assessments, utilizing theories and other studies in developing instructional materials, and subjecting the materials into different inspections to ensure quality and accuracy. Additionally, a senior instructional designer must utilize their expertise and experience by training and supervising junior designers while implementing policies and regulations.
Instructional technology specialists and senior instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $43,402 | $68,140 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $49,000 And $93,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Newtown, CT |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Smith College | Algolia |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between an instructional technology specialist and a senior instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Elementary Education | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between instructional technology specialists' and senior instructional designers' demographics:
| Instructional Technology Specialist | Senior Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% | Male, 45.7% Female, 54.3% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |