Education68% remote-eligible+4.5% YoY growth

Instructional Designer Salary
by City (2026)

Design engaging learning experiences and curricula for corporate or academic settings. National median: $76K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$76K

Top 10% earn

$125K

Entry level

$58K

Salary growth

+4.5%/yr

Instructional Designer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$75K	$99K	$127K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$74K	$97K	$125K	210	9.3%
Washington, DC	$73K	$95K	$123K	152	8.5%
New York City, NY	$72K	$94K	$121K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$71K	$93K	$120K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$71K	$93K	$120K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$71K	$93K	$120K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$69K	$91K	$117K	175	None ✓
Boston, MA	$70K	$91K	$118K	162	5%
Irvine, CA	$69K	$90K	$117K	172	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$68K	$90K	$116K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$68K	$89K	$114K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$68K	$89K	$114K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$67K	$88K	$114K	162	None ✓
Los Angeles, CA	$67K	$87K	$113K	163	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$67K	$87K	$113K	120	5%
Arlington, VA	$67K	$87K	$113K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$67K	$87K	$113K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$67K	$87K	$112K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$66K	$86K	$112K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$65K	$85K	$110K	148	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$65K	$85K	$109K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$65K	$85K	$110K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$65K	$85K	$110K	150	None ✓
Rockville, MD	$65K	$85K	$109K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$64K	$84K	$109K	145	5.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$64K	$84K	$108K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$64K	$84K	$108K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$64K	$84K	$109K	145	10.75%
Hartford, CT	$64K	$84K	$108K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$64K	$84K	$108K	192	11%
Chula Vista, CA	$63K	$83K	$107K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$63K	$83K	$107K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$63K	$83K	$107K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$63K	$83K	$107K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$63K	$82K	$106K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$63K	$82K	$106K	155	9.3%
Portland, OR	$63K	$82K	$106K	130	9.9%
Anchorage, AK	$63K	$82K	$106K	128	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$61K	$80K	$103K	107	4.95%
Tacoma, WA	$61K	$80K	$103K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$61K	$80K	$103K	118	4.55%
Durham, NC	$61K	$80K	$103K	100	4.75%
Madison, WI	$61K	$80K	$103K	102	5.3%
Minneapolis, MN	$61K	$80K	$103K	106	6.8%
St. Paul, MN	$61K	$80K	$103K	104	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$60K	$79K	$102K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$60K	$79K	$101K	120	None ✓
Austin, TX	$59K	$78K	$100K	110	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$59K	$78K	$100K	102	4.75%
Gresham, OR	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$60K	$78K	$101K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$59K	$77K	$99K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$59K	$77K	$99K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	4.55%
Cary, NC	$59K	$77K	$99K	112	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$59K	$77K	$100K	115	5.99%
Plano, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$58K	$76K	$98K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$58K	$76K	$98K	99	5.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$58K	$76K	$98K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	4.85%
Provo, UT	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	6.6%
Dallas, TX	$57K	$75K	$97K	96	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$57K	$75K	$96K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$57K	$75K	$97K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$57K	$75K	$97K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$57K	$75K	$97K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$57K	$75K	$97K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$57K	$75K	$97K	105	5.8%
Missoula, MT	$57K	$75K	$96K	102	6.75%
Houston, TX	$57K	$74K	$96K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$56K	$74K	$95K	93	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$56K	$74K	$95K	94	None ✓
Irving, TX	$57K	$74K	$96K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$57K	$74K	$96K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$57K	$74K	$96K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$57K	$74K	$96K	102	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$57K	$74K	$96K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$57K	$74K	$96K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	4.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$57K	$74K	$96K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$57K	$74K	$96K	102	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$57K	$74K	$96K	90	3.99%
Rochester, MN	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	6.8%
North Las Vegas, NV	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$56K	$74K	$95K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$56K	$73K	$94K	87	None ✓
Garland, TX	$56K	$73K	$94K	91	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$56K	$73K	$94K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$56K	$73K	$94K	100	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$56K	$73K	$94K	105	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$56K	$73K	$94K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$56K	$73K	$94K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$56K	$73K	$94K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$56K	$73K	$94K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$56K	$73K	$94K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$56K	$73K	$94K	95	3.07%
St. Louis, MO	$56K	$73K	$94K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$56K	$73K	$94K	90	5.3%
Reno, NV	$56K	$73K	$94K	108	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$56K	$73K	$94K	105	6.5%
North Charleston, SC	$56K	$73K	$94K	95	6.5%
Grand Prairie, TX	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$55K	$72K	$93K	92	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$55K	$72K	$93K	93	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$55K	$72K	$93K	98	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$55K	$72K	$93K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$55K	$72K	$93K	92	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	3.23%
Kenosha, WI	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$55K	$72K	$93K	92	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$55K	$72K	$93K	102	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	5%
Greenville, SC	$55K	$72K	$93K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$55K	$72K	$93K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	None ✓
Warren, MI	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	5%
Lafayette, LA	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$54K	$71K	$92K	88	None ✓
Fayetteville, AR	$54K	$71K	$91K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$53K	$70K	$90K	102	9.3%
Rockford, IL	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$53K	$70K	$90K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$53K	$70K	$90K	90	2.5%
Pueblo, CO	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	4.25%
Grand Rapids, MI	$53K	$70K	$90K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$53K	$70K	$90K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$53K	$70K	$90K	88	6.5%
Norman, OK	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$53K	$70K	$90K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$53K	$70K	$90K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$53K	$70K	$90K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$53K	$69K	$89K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$53K	$69K	$89K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$53K	$69K	$89K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$53K	$69K	$89K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$53K	$69K	$89K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$53K	$69K	$89K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$52K	$68K	$88K	82	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$52K	$68K	$88K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$52K	$68K	$88K	75	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$52K	$68K	$88K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$52K	$68K	$88K	82	5%
New Orleans, LA	$52K	$68K	$88K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$52K	$68K	$88K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$52K	$68K	$88K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$52K	$68K	$88K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$52K	$68K	$88K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$51K	$67K	$86K	78	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$51K	$67K	$86K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$51K	$67K	$86K	82	None ✓
Oklahoma City, OK	$51K	$67K	$86K	82	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$51K	$67K	$86K	82	5.7%
Little Rock, AR	$51K	$67K	$86K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$49K	$65K	$83K	76	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$50K	$65K	$84K	80	4.75%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $76K Instructional Designer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Instructional Designer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Instructional Designer is $76,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $58,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $98,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Instructional Designers nationally earn $125,000+.

Education and requirements

Master's in Instructional Design or Education Technology. This role is 68% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Instructional Designer compensation is growing at 4.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Instructional Designer salary FAQ

How much does a Instructional Designer make?

The median Instructional Designer salary in the US is $76,000 per year — about $37/hour. Most earn between $58,000 (25th percentile) and $98,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Instructional Designer?

Entry-level Instructional Designer positions typically start around $58,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Instructional Designers earn?

The top 10% of Instructional Designers earn $125,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Instructional Designers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Instructional Designer salary at $99K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Instructional Designer salaries going up?

Yes — Instructional Designer pay is growing about 4.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Instructional Designer Salaryby City (2026)