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Instructional Designer Salary in 2026

Instructional designers create effective educational and training materials using learning theories and multimedia tools. They develop curricula for corporate training, e-learning, and academic programs.

Median Salary

$81,000

$6,750/mo

Entry Level

$52,000

starting pay

Senior Level

$103,000

experienced

Job Growth

+11%

10-yr outlook

Instructional Designer Overview

Instructional designers create effective educational and training materials using learning theories and multimedia tools. They develop curricula for corporate training, e-learning, and academic programs.

Education

Master's Degree

Experience

2-4 years

Industry

Education

Total Jobs (US)

95K

5-Year Growth

+17%

Category

Education

Hourly Rate

$38.94/hr

Monthly Pay

$6,750

Instructional Designer Salary Calculator

Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Instructional Designer salary in your area.

Mid Career (5-9 yrs)

Estimated Instructional Designer Salary

$86,000

$7,167/month · $3,308/biweekly · $41.35/hr

Instructional Designer Salary Range

Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Instructional Designer field.

25th Percentile$63,600
$64K
Median (50th)$81,000
$81K
75th Percentile$92,000
$92K
90th Percentile$116,500
$117K
Top Earners$130,000
$130K

Entry-level Instructional Designers earn around $52,000, while the top 10% earn $116,500 or more.

Top Paying States for Instructional Designers

StateEst. Median Salaryvs National
California$96,000+$15,000
New York$93,000+$12,000
Virginia$86,000+$5,000
Texas$79,000$-2,000
Florida$79,000$-2,000

Top Paying Cities for Instructional Designers

CityEst. Median Salaryvs National
San Francisco$101,000+$20,000
New York$96,000+$15,000
Washington DC$93,000+$12,000
Dallas$81,000$0
Orlando$76,000$-5,000

Required Skills & Certifications

Key Skills

Articulate StorylineLMS AdministrationADDIE ModelVideo ProductionLearning Analytics

Certifications

CPTDAPTDGoogle Certified Educator

Instructional Designer Career Progression

Typical salary growth path for a Instructional Designer from entry level to expert.

Entry Level

$52,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$78,000

3-7 years

Senior

$103,000

8-14 years

Lead / Expert

$130,000

15+ years

EntryExpert

Instructional Designer Salary FAQ

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