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Instructional Designer and Trainer Salary in the United States

How much does an Instructional Designer and Trainer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Instructional Designer and Trainer in the United States is $83,879 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

However, an Instructional Designer and Trainer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,547
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,365 to $91,034
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,792
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View as table View as graph 25% $73,365 10% $63,792 90% $97,547 75% $91,034 $83,879 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Instructional Designer and Trainer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $91,034 $7,586 $1,751 $44
Average $83,879 $6,990 $1,613 $40
25th Percentile $73,365 $6,114 $1,411 $35
Check out Instructional Designer and Trainer Job Openings in the United States
Instructional Designer

George J. Igel & Co., Inc. - Columbus, OH

Remote Instructional Designer -- Design & Assess Courses

Randstad Usa - Columbus, OH

K-5 ELA Instructional Designer (Remote)

McGraw Hill - Columbus, OH

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc. - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Instructional Designer and Trainer Salaries

An Instructional Designer and Trainer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Instructional Designer and Trainer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Instructional Designer and Trainer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $67,737
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,353
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,289
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $112,233
  • Expert (over 8 years): $149,359
Levels Salary
Curriculu... Level Instructional Designer and Trainer$67,737
Instructi... Level Instructional Designer and Trainer$83,353
Curriculu... Level Instructional Designer and Trainer$97,289
Curriculu... Level Instructional Designer and Trainer$112,233
Curriculu... Level Instructional Designer and Trainer$149,359
$67,737 0 yr
$83,353 < 2 yrs
$97,289 2-4 yrs
$112,233 5-8 yrs
$149,359 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Instructional Designer and Trainer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Instructional Designer and Trainers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $92,871.
  • California: $92,519.
  • Massachusetts: $91,286.

Top Paying Cities for Instructional Designer and Trainers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $105,797
  • San Francisco: $104,638
  • Oakland: $102,433

What Skills Can Increase an Instructional Designer and Trainer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 20% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Sales Process (Mentioned in 2.36% Job Postings): Designing and implementing repeatable steps that a salesperson takes to move a prospect from an early-stage lead to a closed customer.
  • Child Development (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 20%
Sales Process 2.36%
Child Development 1.86%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Instructional Designer and Trainer's salary.
  • Sales Process: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Sales Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Product Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Sales Process
 $99,816
19%
Sales Presentation
 $99,816
19%
Product Management
 $90,589
8%
Public Speaking
 $88,912
6%
Customer Satisfaction
 $87,234
4%
Partnering
 $87,234
4%
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Instructional Designer and Trainer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Instructional Designer and Trainer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 47% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Instructional Designer and Trainer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Instructional Designer and Trainer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Instructional Designer and Trainer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$100,655$48.020%
Internet$98,977$48.018%
Energy & Utilities$96,461$46.015%
Healthcare$92,267$44.010%
Aerospace & Defense$91,428$44.09%

How Education impacts an Instructional Designer and Trainer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Instructional Designer and Trainers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Instructional Designer and Trainer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $78,419 and $82,731).

Instructional Designer and Trainer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Instructional Designer and Trainer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 5.6%
Associates 3.2%
Bachelors 29.7%
Masters 54.7%
Doctorate 6.3%
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Instructional Designer and Trainer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Instructional Designer and Trainer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$73,365
Average $83,879/year
$91,034
$6,114
Average $6,990/month
$7,586
$1,411
Average $1,613/week
$1,751
$35
Average $40/hour
$44
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $91,034 $7,586 $1,751 $44
Average $83,879 $6,990 $1,613 $40
25th Percentile $73,365 $6,114 $1,411 $35

Salaries of jobs related to Instructional Designer and Trainer

Salary Trends for Instructional Designer and Trainer

Salaries for an Instructional Designer and Trainer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $69,760 in 2023 to around $69,624 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Instructional Designer and Trainer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Instructional Designer and Trainer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$69,760
2024
$69,816
2025
$69,624
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $69,760
2024 $69,816
2025 $69,624
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Instructional Designer and Trainer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Instructional Designer and Trainer

Here are companies hiring for Instructional Designer and Trainer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Instructional Designer and Trainer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Instructional Designer and Trainer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States

  • Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Travel Rn Stepdown (Pcu) Shift. Night shift - 12 hours. Start date: 09/21/2026. End date: 12/21/2026. Duration: 13 weeks. City: Columbus. State: OH more

    13 Days Ago

  • Titan Medical Group, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    Travel OR RN

    Titan Medical Group, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Travel Or Position. Titan Medical is looking for travelers to fill a travel OR position for a 13-week assignment in Columbus, OH more

    13 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    16 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    23 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    23 Days Ago

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FAQ about Instructional Designer and Trainer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Instructional Designer and Trainer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Instructional Designer and Trainer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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