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Lead instructional designer salary
Average lead instructional designer salary
$64,428
Exploring the Salary of Lead Instructional Designers
The Lead Instructional Designer role offers an average salary of $64,428 per year, or around $31 per hour. This position plays a crucial role in developing educational programs and materials, making it vital in various sectors including education, corporate training, and tech. Salaries can fluctuate based on experience, with entry-level positions earning less and seasoned professionals potentially earning significantly more.
Geographic location is another key factor. States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries, influenced by the cost of living and demand for skilled designers. As a Lead Instructional Designer, gaining experience and expertise in specialized areas can lead to lucrative opportunities. Moreover, networking and continuous learning can enhance career prospects, making it essential to stay updated with industry trends.
To maximize earning potential, consider targeting industries that value instructional design, such as technology and healthcare. By understanding the salary dynamics and trends, you can make informed decisions that align with your career goals.
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Where can a Lead Instructional Designer earn more?
Lead instructional designer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level lead instructional designer | $55,800 | $26.84 |
| Mid-level lead instructional designer | $70,800 | $34.02 |
| Senior-level lead instructional designer | $82,000 | $39.42 |
Lead instructional designer salary estimates from across the web
Average lead instructional designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for lead instructional designers are Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maryland. The lowest average lead instructional designer salary states are Mississippi, Montana, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for lead instructional designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $69,874 | $33.59 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $86,735 | $41.70 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $86,451 | $41.56 |
| 4 | Maryland | $82,714 | $39.77 |
| 5 | New York | $74,476 | $35.81 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $64,569 | $31.04 |
| 7 | Washington | $69,360 | $33.35 |
| 8 | Oregon | $67,748 | $32.57 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $75,943 | $36.51 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $69,725 | $33.52 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $69,791 | $33.55 |
| 12 | Virginia | $68,712 | $33.03 |
| 13 | Idaho | $61,534 | $29.58 |
| 14 | Michigan | $63,253 | $30.41 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $66,360 | $31.90 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $59,998 | $28.85 |
| 17 | California | $66,308 | $31.88 |
| 18 | Vermont | $66,343 | $31.90 |
| 19 | Alaska | $62,998 | $30.29 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $62,140 | $29.88 |
| 21 | Illinois | $62,541 | $30.07 |
| 22 | Arizona | $61,128 | $29.39 |
| 23 | Delaware | $67,900 | $32.64 |
| 24 | Utah | $59,370 | $28.54 |
| 25 | Colorado | $62,546 | $30.07 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $62,607 | $30.10 |
| 27 | Texas | $59,833 | $28.77 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $65,576 | $31.53 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $55,843 | $26.85 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $55,256 | $26.57 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $55,827 | $26.84 |
| 32 | Georgia | $57,994 | $27.88 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $58,928 | $28.33 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $57,608 | $27.70 |
| 35 | Kansas | $54,545 | $26.22 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $56,666 | $27.24 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $56,005 | $26.93 |
| 38 | Ohio | $55,273 | $26.57 |
| 39 | Maine | $56,616 | $27.22 |
| 40 | Montana | $49,517 | $23.81 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $60,742 | $29.20 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $53,644 | $25.79 |
| 43 | Missouri | $54,762 | $26.33 |
| 44 | Alabama | $52,157 | $25.08 |
| 45 | Florida | $51,569 | $24.79 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $51,713 | $24.86 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $50,576 | $24.32 |
| 48 | Iowa | $48,823 | $23.47 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $48,384 | $23.26 |
| 50 | Indiana | $49,212 | $23.66 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $38,883 | $18.69 |
Highest paying cities for lead instructional designers
The highest-paying cities for lead instructional designers are Hartford, CT, New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $86,810 | $41.74 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $74,695 | $35.91 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $71,406 | $34.33 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $70,553 | $33.92 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $69,829 | $33.57 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $69,500 | $33.41 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,956 | $32.19 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $62,795 | $30.19 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $62,583 | $30.09 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $62,154 | $29.88 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,219 | $29.43 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $60,565 | $29.12 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $58,101 | $27.93 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $57,884 | $27.83 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $57,601 | $27.69 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $57,129 | $27.47 |
| 17 | Memphis, TN | $55,818 | $26.84 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $54,583 | $26.24 |
| 19 | Overland Park, KS | $54,456 | $26.18 |
| 20 | Miami, FL | $52,354 | $25.17 |
Lead instructional designer salary details
A lead instructional designer's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $89,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a lead instructional designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $89,000 | $7,417 | $43 |
| 75th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| Average | $64,428 | $5,369 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying lead instructional designer jobs
The highest paying types of lead instructional designers are director, educational research and product strategy, lead performance support analyst, and senior training specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Developer | $53,226 | $4,435 | $25.59 | 73,274 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Curriculum Designer | $54,176 | $4,515 | $26.05 | 44,751 |
| E-Learning Designer | $65,312 | $5,443 | $31.40 | 51,006 |
| Instructional Design Technologist | $64,845 | $5,404 | $31.18 | 87,908 |
| Instructional Designer And Trainer | $65,072 | $5,423 | $31.28 | 70,222 |
Top companies hiring lead instructional designers now:
Which companies pay lead instructional designers the most?
Lead instructional designer salaries at Harvard University and InfosysPublicService are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average lead instructional designer salary at companies like Ross Institute and University of Illinois Springfield are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | $80,683 | $38.79 |
| 2 | Infosys Public Service | $69,426 | $33.38 |
| 3 | Ross Institute | $65,877 | $31.67 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Springfield | $65,325 | $31.41 |
| 5 | Cigna | $63,927 | $30.73 |
| 6 | Accenture | $63,630 | $30.59 |
| 7 | Steris | $58,904 | $28.32 |
| 8 | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | $54,727 | $26.31 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Lead Instructional Designer salary by industry
The average lead instructional designer salary varies across industries:
- The average lead instructional designer salary in the finance industry is $70,803, the highest of any industry.
- The average lead instructional designer salary in the finance industry is $68,419.
- Lead instructional designers in the education industry earn an average salary of $58,781, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for lead instructional designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $70,803 | $34.04 |
| 2 | Technology | $68,419 | $32.89 |
| 3 | Professional | $65,046 | $31.27 |
| 4 | Health Care | $64,389 | $30.96 |
| 5 | Transportation | $64,348 | $30.94 |
| 6 | Education | $58,781 | $28.26 |
High paying lead instructional designer jobs
Lead instructional designer salary trends
The average lead instructional designer salary has risen by $7,398 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average lead instructional designer earned $57,030 annually, but today, they earn $64,428 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for lead instructional designers over the last decade.
Compare lead instructional designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average lead instructional designer salary over time
Compare lead instructional designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Lead instructional designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $64,400 | $30.98 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $63,800 | $30.66 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $62,000 | $29.81 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $61,300 | $29.49 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $60,100 | $28.89 | +0.3% |
Recently added lead instructional designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips | Lead Content Developer & Instructional Designer-Ultrasound | Bothell, WA | 05/30/2025 | $95,000 |
| Clarity Consultants | Lead Instructional Designer (Contract Virtual | Campbell, CA | 05/08/2025 | $125,220 |
| Denver Health and Hospital Authority | Epic Lead Instructional Designer | Denver, CO | 04/24/2025 | $76,000 |
| Olympic College | Lead Instructional Designer | Bremerton, WA | 04/10/2025 | $81,127 |
| Rize Education | Instructional Design Lead | New York, NY | 02/06/2025 | $120,000 |
| The Mosaic Company | Lead Consultant Instructional Designer | Renton, WA | 01/14/2025 | $105,000 |
| Logicmonitor | Lead Instructional Designer-Sales Enablement | Santa Barbara, CA | 11/25/2024 | $86,205 |
| Logicmonitor | Lead Instructional Designer-Sales Enablement | Boston, MA | 11/20/2024 | $86,205 |
| Montana Technological University | Lead Instructional Designer/Distance Learning Coordinator | Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 10/31/2024 | $12,689 |
| Mission Bit | Spring 2025 Lead Instructor-Intro To Web Design (In-Person at Burton HS) | San Francisco, CA | 10/24/2024 | $56,349 |
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