What is the average Instructional Designer salary in the US?

The national median Instructional Designer salary is $76,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $58,000, while senior professionals earn $125,000 or more.

Which city pays Instructional Designers the most?

San Francisco offers the highest median Instructional Designer salary at $99K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Instructional Designer salaries growing?

Instructional Designer salaries are growing at 4.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

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%
Oakland, CA	$71K	$93K	$120K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$70K	$91K	$118K	162	5%
Jersey City, NJ	$68K	$90K	$116K	162	10.75%
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%
San Diego, CA	$65K	$85K	$110K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$65K	$85K	$110K	150	None ✓
Philadelphia, PA	$64K	$84K	$108K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$64K	$84K	$108K	115	5.75%
Hartford, CT	$64K	$84K	$108K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$64K	$84K	$108K	192	11%
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%
Austin, TX	$59K	$78K	$100K	110	None ✓
Raleigh, NC	$59K	$78K	$100K	102	4.75%
Plano, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	75	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	None ✓
Midland, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	92	None ✓
Waco, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	78	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	None ✓
Denton, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	102	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	95	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	150	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	9.3%
Stockton, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	138	9.3%
Irvine, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	172	9.3%
San Bernardino, CA	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	9.3%
New York City, NY	$58K	$76K	$98K	187	6.85%
Yonkers, NY	$58K	$76K	$98K	165	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	6.85%
Albany, NY	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	6.85%
Miami, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	123	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	112	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$58K	$76K	$98K	95	4.95%
Joliet, IL	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	4.95%
Naperville, IL	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	4.95%
Rockford, IL	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	None ✓
Bellevue, WA	$58K	$76K	$98K	175	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$58K	$76K	$98K	162	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	2.5%
Glendale, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	95	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$58K	$76K	$98K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$58K	$76K	$98K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	4.55%
Pueblo, CO	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$58K	$76K	$98K	99	5.75%
Columbus, GA	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	5.75%
Athens, GA	$58K	$76K	$98K	92	5.75%
Macon, GA	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	5.75%
Springfield, MA	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	5%
Cambridge, MA	$58K	$76K	$98K	185	5%
Lowell, MA	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	5%
Greensboro, NC	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	4.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	4.75%
Cary, NC	$58K	$76K	$98K	112	4.75%
Norfolk, VA	$58K	$76K	$98K	95	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$58K	$76K	$98K	95	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$58K	$76K	$98K	145	5.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$58K	$76K	$98K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	3.99%
Warren, MI	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	4.25%
Ann Arbor, MI	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	4.25%
Pittsburgh, PA	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	3.07%
Allentown, PA	$58K	$76K	$98K	95	3.07%
Erie, PA	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	5.3%
Independence, MO	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$58K	$76K	$98K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	6.8%
Duluth, MN	$58K	$76K	$98K	92	6.8%
Salem, OR	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	9.9%
Eugene, OR	$58K	$76K	$98K	110	9.9%
Gresham, OR	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	4.85%
West Valley City, UT	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	4.85%
Lexington, KY	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	5%
North Charleston, SC	$58K	$76K	$98K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$58K	$76K	$98K	92	6.5%
Norman, OK	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$58K	$76K	$98K	78	6%
Lafayette, LA	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	6%
Frederick, MD	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$58K	$76K	$98K	148	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$58K	$76K	$98K	140	10.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$58K	$76K	$98K	145	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$58K	$76K	$98K	138	10.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$58K	$76K	$98K	122	6.99%
Stamford, CT	$58K	$76K	$98K	158	6.99%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$58K	$76K	$98K	82	4.82%
Overland Park, KS	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	5.7%
Kansas City, KS	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	5.9%
Rio Rancho, NM	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	5.9%
Boise, ID	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$58K	$76K	$98K	105	5.8%
Nampa, ID	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	6.75%
Missoula, MT	$58K	$76K	$98K	102	6.75%
Great Falls, MT	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	6.75%
Cheyenne, WY	$58K	$76K	$98K	92	None ✓
Casper, WY	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$58K	$76K	$98K	90	2.5%
Bismarck, ND	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$58K	$76K	$98K	88	None ✓
Jackson, MS	$58K	$76K	$98K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$58K	$76K	$98K	80	5%
Fort Smith, AR	$58K	$76K	$98K	75	4.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$58K	$76K	$98K	85	4.9%
Charleston, WV	$58K	$76K	$98K	78	6.5%
Huntington, WV	$58K	$76K	$98K	75	6.5%
Portland, ME	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	7.15%
Lewiston, ME	$58K	$76K	$98K	98	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$58K	$76K	$98K	120	None ✓
Concord, NH	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$58K	$76K	$98K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$58K	$76K	$98K	115	5.99%
Wilmington, DE	$58K	$76K	$98K	108	6.6%
Dover, DE	$58K	$76K	$98K	100	6.6%
Pearl City, HI	$58K	$76K	$98K	185	11%
Hilo, HI	$58K	$76K	$98K	155	11%
Fairbanks, AK	$58K	$76K	$98K	138	None ✓
Bethesda, MD	$58K	$76K	$98K	165	5.75%
Dallas, TX	$57K	$75K	$97K	96	None ✓
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 ✓
Rochester, NY	$57K	$74K	$96K	90	6.85%
Tampa, FL	$57K	$74K	$96K	102	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%
Charlotte, NC	$57K	$74K	$96K	100	4.75%
Richmond, VA	$57K	$74K	$96K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$57K	$74K	$96K	102	None ✓
Columbus, OH	$57K	$74K	$96K	90	3.99%
San Antonio, TX	$56K	$73K	$94K	87	None ✓
Garland, TX	$56K	$73K	$94K	91	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$56K	$73K	$94K	100	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$56K	$73K	$94K	105	None ✓
Virginia Beach, VA	$56K	$73K	$94K	98	5.75%
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%
Buffalo, NY	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$55K	$72K	$93K	93	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$55K	$72K	$93K	98	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$55K	$72K	$93K	102	4.55%
Cincinnati, OH	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$55K	$72K	$93K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	3.23%
Las Vegas, NV	$55K	$72K	$93K	102	None ✓
Huntsville, AL	$55K	$72K	$93K	88	5%
Fresno, CA	$53K	$70K	$90K	102	9.3%
Spokane, WA	$53K	$70K	$90K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$53K	$70K	$90K	90	2.5%
Cleveland, OH	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$53K	$70K	$90K	82	4.25%
Grand Rapids, MI	$53K	$70K	$90K	90	4.25%
Louisville, KY	$53K	$70K	$90K	85	5%
Columbia, SC	$53K	$70K	$90K	88	6.5%
Des Moines, IA	$53K	$70K	$90K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$53K	$70K	$90K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$52K	$68K	$88K	82	None ✓
Corpus Christi, TX	$52K	$68K	$88K	84	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%
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 Salaryby City (2026)