Instructional Designer Salary
Instructional designers create educational materials and learning experiences for corporate training and academic programs.
Instructional Designer Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level instructional designers earn around $46,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $74,000. Senior-level instructional designers can earn $112,000 or more.
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See Investment Options →Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for instructional designers varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $44,000, while the top 10% earn $118,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $72,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $95,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $118,000 |
Instructional Designer Salary by State
Instructional Designer salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $122,400, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $59,760.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $122,400 | Details → |
| #2 California | $99,360 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $97,200 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $89,280 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $87,840 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $82,800 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $82,800 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $80,640 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $79,200 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $79,200 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $75,600 | Details → |
| #12 New Hampshire | $75,600 | Details → |
| #13 Rhode Island | $75,600 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $74,880 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $72,720 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $72,720 | Details → |
| #17 Florida | $70,560 | Details → |
| #18 Maine | $70,560 | Details → |
| #19 Arizona | $69,840 | Details → |
| #20 Minnesota | $69,840 | Details → |
| #21 Nevada | $69,840 | Details → |
| #22 Utah | $69,840 | Details → |
| #23 Pennsylvania | $69,120 | Details → |
| #24 Illinois | $68,400 | Details → |
| #25 Montana | $68,400 | Details → |
| #26 Idaho | $67,680 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $66,960 | Details → |
| #28 New Mexico | $66,960 | Details → |
| #29 North Carolina | $66,240 | Details → |
| #30 Texas | $66,240 | Details → |
| #31 Wisconsin | $66,240 | Details → |
| #32 Wyoming | $66,240 | Details → |
| #33 Louisiana | $65,520 | Details → |
| #34 Indiana | $64,800 | Details → |
| #35 Michigan | $64,800 | Details → |
| #36 Nebraska | $64,800 | Details → |
| #37 North Dakota | $64,800 | Details → |
| #38 Ohio | $64,800 | Details → |
| #39 Iowa | $64,080 | Details → |
| #40 South Carolina | $64,080 | Details → |
| #41 Tennessee | $64,080 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $63,360 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $63,360 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $62,640 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $62,640 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $62,640 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $61,920 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $60,480 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $60,480 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $59,760 | Details → |
Negotiate Your Way to Senior Pay
Data shows Instructional Designers who negotiate earn 7–15% more. A single negotiation could add $40,000 over your career trajectory.
Get Negotiation Scripts — $197 →Key Responsibilities
- ● Design curriculum and learning materials
- ● Develop e-learning modules and courses
- ● Apply learning theory to instructional content
- ● Create assessments and evaluations
- ● Use authoring tools to build interactive content
Top Skills
Education Required
Master's degree
Job Outlook
Faster than average — projected 8% growth over the next decade
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