I really think that after I graduate I want to go into Instructional Design.
(n):The process by which instruction is improved through the analysis of learning needs and systematic development of learning materials. Instructional designers often use technology and multimedia as tools to enhance instruction.
Career Outcomes & Job Titles
People likely to be interested in a degree in instructional design
for online learning are often training or education professionals
pursuing instructional design specialist or developer positions in a
variety of online learning settings, including educational institutions,
corporations, the military, health care, or government.Potential Employment Settings
- Adult education program
- Community college
- Continuing education program
- Corporation
- Educational consulting firm
- Government—local, state, federal
- Health care
- Land-based or online college or university
- Military
- Military education
- P–12 education
- Public or private corporation
- Vocational school
Common Job Titles/Positions
- Computer-assisted instruction specialist
- Coordinator of e-learning
- e-Learning developer
- Education and development specialist
- Instructional design specialist
- Instructional designer
- Instructional technologist
- Learning consultant
- Training specialist
The Average Salary of Instructional Designers
by Elvis Michael, Demand Media
Instructional designers, also referred to as instructional
coordinators, develop products such as curricula and instructional
materials for a variety of educational institutions. They also teach
instructors and educators how to deliver the educational content to
students using effective techniques, including books and technology, to
successfully educate students.
Qualifications
Instructional designers generally obtain a master’s degree in an education discipline. Some employers require a teacher's license or school administrator’s license to be considered for employment. As technology becomes increasingly used in classrooms and through distance learning, instructional designers are required to have good technical skills using a variety of computer software and applications.Salary
As of May 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated an average salary of $59,280 per year or $29.50 per hour for instructional designers. The highest employment levels were in the educational services industry, employing 83 percent of industrial designers, and in government agencies, employing 10 percent of instructional designers.Contributing Factors
Salaries can vary based on the type of employer and responsibilities of the job. Some instructional designers are self-employed. Among employers, the highest wages were paid by the federal government, where instructional designers earned an average salary of $87,790 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The District of Columbia paid wages that were higher than in any state in the United States, with an average salary of $81,140 per year.Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 20-percent growth during the decade from 2010 to 2020 for this occupation. Growth is expected due to an increased interest in improving the effectiveness of a teacher’s role. Instructional designers help teachers develop their skills to educate students and improve their grades, contributing to projected job growth that's faster than the average 14-percent growth expected across all occupations.School of Education Master's Degree Graduates
