Education
Instructional Designer — Career & Salary Intelligence
Instructional Designer careers, salary ranges across the United States, education requirements, and growth outlook.
National median
$77,440
Entry (p10)
$47,980
Top 10% (p90)
$121,670
Career score
66/100
Moderate Career
Career overview
Instructional Designer careers, salary ranges across the United States, education requirements, and growth outlook.
Career stability score 75/100. Automation risk 32/100. Remote-work compatibility 88/100.
What the job pays nationally
The published wage distribution for this occupation, before any location adjustment. These are pay percentiles, not years of experience \u2014 the source data does not link the two.
| Percentile | What it means | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 1 in 10 earn less than this | $47,980 |
| 25th percentile | 1 in 4 earn less than this | $60,780 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $77,440 |
| 75th percentile | 1 in 4 earn more than this | $98,820 |
| 90th percentile | 1 in 10 earn more than this | $121,670 |
Salary by location
Cost-of-living adjusted mid-level compensation.
| City | COL | Median | p90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 187 | $85,730 | $127,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 176 | $84,850 | $139,900 |
| Chicago, IL | 107 | $77,900 | $120,840 |
| Houston, TX | 96 | $77,430 | $106,760 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 104 | $65,340 | $99,290 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 101 | $78,400 | $112,710 |
| San Antonio, TX | 90 | $76,420 | $106,200 |
| San Diego, CA | 160 | $105,890 | $160,180 |
| Dallas, TX | 103 | $80,740 | $118,210 |
| San Jose, CA | 202 | $99,030 | $156,190 |
| Austin, TX | 119 | $78,740 | $104,160 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 93 | $60,200 | $98,480 |
Salary by education
Approximate compensation by educational attainment.
| Education level | Estimated salary | vs Bachelor's |
|---|---|---|
| High School | $54,000 | -30% |
| Associate Degree | $64,000 | -18% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $77,000 | — |
| Master's Degree | $97,000 | 25% |
| Doctorate / Professional | $120,000 | 55% |
| Professional Certifications | $87,000 | 12% |
10-year career growth forecast
Projected compensation assuming standard market growth.
Certifications that increase earnings
PMP
Cross-functional program leadership
Approx. uplift: +9%
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Process improvement credibility
Approx. uplift: +6%
Career Opportunity Score breakdown
Overall
66/100
Strong
Moderate Career
Compensation
48/100
Moderate
Growth
80/100
Excellent
Demand
70/100
Strong
Stability
75/100
Strong
Advancement
48/100
Moderate
Remote flexibility
88/100
Excellent
Frequently asked questions about Instructional Designer
Common questions about salary, education, growth, and total compensation.