Instructional Designer Career Guide

What is an instructional designer?

An instructional designer is someone who creates learning materials and experiences to help people learn better and faster. They make tough subjects easy to understand and ensure that learning is fun and efficient. These designers work in schools, companies, or government places, helping everyone from students to employees improve their skills.

Duties and responsibilities

Instructional designers create cool and engaging lessons to help people remember and use what they learn. They look into what learners need and use special theories and tools to make awesome learning content. They figure out what learners know already and what they need to learn, then they create stuff to fill in the gaps. They also work with experts to make sure the lessons fit the learners’ needs and use tech to make everything look good.

Work environment

Instructional designers mostly work in offices, but where exactly they work depends on their job. In schools, they might work with teachers to develop new lessons. In companies, they might help develop training for employees. Their work is often based on projects, which means they sometimes have the chance to work from home or have flexible hours.

Typical work hours

Most designers work from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., like a regular job. But sometimes, when there’s a big deadline or a lot of work, they might need to work late or on weekends. Some work on their own as freelancers, which lets them choose their own hours based on the projects they take on.

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How to become an instructional designer

Becoming an instructional designer is about mixing your creative side with some important skills and education. Here’s how you can get started:

Step 1: Earn a bachelor’s degree

You usually need a bachelor’s degree to start. Majors like education, instructional technology, or graphic design are great because they teach you about how people learn, how to create courses, and how to make cool learning materials.

Step 2: Gain relevant experience

Getting some real-world experience is key. You can do this through internships, part-time jobs, or even volunteering. This experience will teach you a lot about how to create effective learning stuff.

Step 3: Learn the tech skills

Knowing your way around technology is crucial. You’ll need to be good at using software for creating and editing digital content and managing online learning.

Step 4: Go for a master’s degree (optional)

A master’s degree can help a lot, though it’s not always necessary. If you go for it, you’ll get even deeper into how to build great educational programs.

Step 5: Get certified (also optional)

Getting a professional certification isn’t a must, but it can make you stand out. It shows you’re serious about your career and have the skills employers are looking for.

Step 6: Build a portfolio

Create a portfolio of your work to show off your skills. Include all sorts of projects you’ve worked on, like online courses, training guides, and even fun educational games.

Step 8: Apply and interview

Now you’re ready to find a job. Make sure your resume and cover letter spotlight your skills and experiences. When it’s time for interviews, be ready to talk about your projects and what makes you a great instructional designer.

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How much do instructional designers make?

Instructional designer salaries will vary by experience, industry, education, location, and organization size. Being proficient in certain design software, having experience in e-learning, and having a strong portfolio may also add value and increase income potential.

Highest paying industries

• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: $78,750
• Management of Companies and Enterprises: $77,030
• Publishing Industries: $76,460
• Information: $75,680
• Finance and Insurance: $75,250

Browse instructional designer salary data by market

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Types of instructional designers

Instructional designers can work in different kinds of jobs depending on what they’re interested in. Here’s a look at some common types:

Corporate instructional designer

These designers work in companies, creating training materials to help employees learn new skills and grow in their jobs. They focus on making learning fun and effective, using what works best for their company.

Academic instructional designer

These designers work in schools, from elementary to universities. They team up with teachers to create awesome learning materials that make classes better and help students learn more effectively. They use cool educational theories to make sure everything they design can be used in real life.

E-learning developer

E-learning developers create courses that you can take on a computer or phone. They use tech skills like coding and multimedia tools to make learning interactive and fun. This lets people learn from anywhere in the world.

Instructional coordinator

These folks do more than create courses—they make sure schools and teachers are using the best methods to teach. They work with teachers to improve classes and help introduce new ways to make learning better.

Instructional technology specialist

These designers are tech wizards in education. Whether they’re in schools or companies, they show everyone how to use the latest tech to improve learning. They’re always on the lookout for new gadgets and software that can make teaching and learning cooler.

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Top skills for instructional designers

If you’re thinking about becoming an instructional designer, here are some of the key skills you’ll need to be good at the job:

Understanding learning theories

Knowing how people learn is crucial. These designers use this knowledge to create awesome learning experiences that are fun and effective for everyone.

Planning and creating courses

Being good at planning out and building courses is a must. This means figuring out what learners need to know, making content that matches, and setting up ways to check if everyone’s learning well.

Tech savvy

Since a lot of learning happens online, being able to use digital tools and software for online learning is super important. Knowing your way around stuff like learning management systems (LMS) can make a big difference.

Excellent communication

Instructional designers need to be great at talking and writing because they work with a lot of different people, like experts and students, to make sure the learning material is clear and cool.

Managing projects

They often have to handle several projects at the same time, so being good at managing time, sticking to a budget, and hitting deadlines helps them stay on track and succeed.

Creative problem-solving

When making learning materials, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Being able to think of creative ways to solve problems helps make sure learning is still fun and effective.

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Instructional designer career path options

Starting as an instructional designer opens up a lot of doors for your future career. Here’s how you can grow and move up:

Climb the ladder

After gaining some experience, you can move up to become a senior instructional designer. In this role, you’ll lead a team, manage big projects from start to finish, and share your expert knowledge. If you do well, you might even become a learning and development manager, where you’ll make big decisions about training programs and manage a team of trainers and designers.

Explore related jobs

If you want to try something a bit different but still use your skills, there are cool jobs like e-learning developer or LMS administrator. E-learning developers focus on making creative and tech-savvy learning platforms. LMS administrators are all about managing the systems that deliver online learning, making sure everything runs smoothly.

Teach the next generation

For those who love school and teaching, becoming a university professor could be the next step. Professors teach students how to be great instructional designers. This path usually needs a lot of schooling, like a doctorate, but it’s rewarding because you get to shape the future of the field.

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Similar job titles

• Technical Writer
• Event Coordinator
• Event Planner
• High School Teacher
• Program Coordinator
• Teacher
• Professor

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Position trends and outlook for instructional designers

• Increased engagement: These days, companies really value ongoing training for their employees, which means they need more designers to create engaging learning programs. With more people working from home, there’s a big demand for online courses, which is great news for these pros.
• Tech in learning: As tech like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) gets more popular, these tools are being used to make learning super immersive and fun. Another cool trend is gamification, which means making learning feel more like playing a game.

Employment projections

Things are looking good for instructional designers when it comes to job opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says jobs in this field are expected to grow by 7 percent through 2031. This growth is mostly because schools and companies are using more technology to help people learn and because they need to train their staff well.

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Instructional designer career tips

Understand your audience

Knowing who you’re creating courses for is super important. Find out what your learners need, what they already know, and how they like to learn. This will help you make lessons that really help them. Always keep your audience in mind when you’re designing your materials.

Master technology

Tech is a big part of instructional design. You need to be good with the latest tools for creating online courses, like learning management systems and e-learning software. Also, keep an eye on new tech that can make learning on mobiles or through social media easier.

Build your network

Connecting with other people in your field is a great idea. You’ll learn a lot, get new ideas, and might even find out about job opportunities. Consider joining groups like:

• The eLearning Guild
• The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)
• The Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
• Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD)

Keep learning

The world of instructional design never stops changing, so neither should you. Keep learning new things through classes, workshops, or webinars. Stay updated by reading industry news and maybe even go for extra certifications to show you’re serious about your job.

Consider certifications

Having a certification can show you’re a pro and serious about your career. Think about getting certifications like CPLP or Certified Instructional Designer/Developer, which can help boost your resume.

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FAQs