Online Instructional Designer Salary in the United States
How much does an Online Instructional Designer make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Online Instructional Designer in the United States is $69,030 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.
However, an Online Instructional Designer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $90,505
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,109 to $80,271
Key Factors That Influence Online Instructional Designer Salaries
An Online Instructional Designer'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 Online Instructional Designer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Online Instructional Designer'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): $65,284
Early Career (1-2 years): $65,550
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,030
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $73,659
Expert (over 8 years): $73,989
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Online Instructional Designer
$65,284
Intermediate Level Online Instructional Designer
$65,550
Senior Level Online Instructional Designer
$69,030
Specialist Level Online Instructional Designer
$73,659
Expert Level Online Instructional Designer
$73,989
$65,2840 yr
$65,550< 2 yrs
$69,0302-4 yrs
$73,6595-8 yrs
$73,989> 8 yrs
View as Table
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What Am I Worth?
How Do Online Instructional Designer 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 Online Instructional Designers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $76,430.
California: $76,140.
Massachusetts: $75,125.
District of Columbia$76,430
California$76,140
Massachusetts$75,125
Washington$74,849
New Jersey$74,822
Alaska$74,725
Connecticut$73,772
New York$73,386
Hawaii$72,150
Rhode Island$71,570
Maryland$71,177
Minnesota$70,639
Colorado$70,431
Illinois$70,362
Oregon$70,100
Delaware$69,907
New Hampshire$69,785
Virginia$69,513
Pennsylvania$68,719
Nevada$68,319
North Dakota$68,188
Michigan$67,981
Wisconsin$67,905
Vermont$67,753
Texas$67,332
Maine$67,304
Arizona$67,263
Ohio$67,215
Georgia$66,580
Indiana$66,262
Wyoming$66,200
Utah$66,103
Iowa$66,062
Kansas$65,730
Louisiana$65,634
North Carolina$65,599
Missouri$65,585
Florida$65,316
Montana$65,171
Nebraska$65,033
Kentucky$64,957
South Carolina$64,681
Tennessee$64,509
Idaho$64,440
New Mexico$63,936
Oklahoma$63,825
Alabama$63,418
South Dakota$62,735
Arkansas$62,362
West Virginia$62,162
Mississippi$61,561
Top Paying Cities for Online Instructional Designers
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: $87,068
San Francisco: $86,114
Oakland: $84,300
San Jose, CA$87,068
San Francisco, CA$86,114
Oakland, CA$84,300
New York, NY$79,481
Paramus, NJ$78,514
Queens Village, NY$78,511
Passaic, NJ$78,445
Bergenfield, NJ$78,439
Stamford, CT$78,287
Huntington, NY$78,259
Newark, NJ$77,749
Bridgeport, CT$77,603
Vallejo, CA$77,466
New Brunswick, NJ$77,438
Petaluma, CA$77,397
Middlesex, NJ$77,265
Somerset, NJ$77,217
Santa Cruz, CA$77,127
Boston, MA$76,706
Monterey, CA$76,464
Seattle, WA$76,306
Santa Rosa, CA$76,292
Los Angeles, CA$76,271
Juneau, AK$76,092
Washington, DC$76,016
Orange, CA$75,770
Santa Ana, CA$75,588
Long Beach, CA$75,519
Anaheim, CA$75,505
Anchorage, AK$75,471
Santa Maria, CA$75,264
Everett, WA$75,250
Danbury, CT$75,007
Bremerton, WA$74,911
Tacoma, WA$74,663
New Suffolk, NY$74,662
Sacramento, CA$74,642
Santa Barbara, CA$74,566
Trenton, NJ$74,490
San Diego, CA$74,490
Brockton, MA$74,414
Fairbanks, AK$74,245
Lompoc, CA$74,069
Lowell, MA$74,013
Ventura, CA$74,000
Nashua, NH$73,986
Stockton, CA$73,980
Modesto, CA$73,476
Poughkeepsie, NY$73,324
Olympia, WA$73,193
Kennewick, WA$73,193
New Haven, CT$73,165
Lawrence, MA$72,916
Hartford, CT$72,847
Riverside, CA$72,834
New Bedford, MA$72,765
Richland, WA$72,765
Bakersfield, CA$72,668
San Bernardino, CA$72,640
New Britain, CT$72,633
Atlantic City, NJ$72,633
New London, CT$72,606
Norwich, CT$72,585
Portsmouth, NH$72,571
Boulder, CO$72,425
Portland, OR$72,330
Worcester, MA$72,323
Minneapolis, MN$72,109
Philadelphia, PA$72,012
Honolulu, HI$71,784
Saint Paul, MN$71,751
Vineland, NJ$71,736
Providence, RI$71,536
Chicago, IL$71,336
Bellingham, WA$71,253
Springfield, MA$71,198
Baltimore, MD$71,177
Chico, CA$71,004
Pittsfield, MA$70,818
Manchester, NH$70,687
Spokane, WA$70,383
Denver, CO$70,376
Albany, NY$70,052
Troy, NY$70,024
Nassau, NY$69,950
Schenectady, NY$69,879
Wilmington, DE$69,824
Burlington, VT$69,727
Salem, OR$69,700
Portland, ME$69,486
Yakima, WA$69,417
Rochester, MN$69,203
Reno, NV$69,168
Fresno, CA$69,168
Milwaukee, WI$69,106
Detroit, MI$69,037
Ann Arbor, MI$69,025
Allentown, PA$69,016
Colorado Springs, CO$68,899
Syracuse, NY$68,864
Carson City, NV$68,864
Houston, TX$68,768
Eugene, OR$68,733
Gary, IN$68,650
Springfield, OR$68,595
Bismarck, ND$68,581
Galveston, TX$68,533
Medford, OR$68,430
Fort Collins, CO$68,402
Concord, NH$68,367
Austin, TX$68,347
Mesa, AZ$68,202
Reading, PA$68,195
Phoenix, AZ$68,188
Dallas, TX$68,167
Saint Cloud, MN$68,101
Madison, WI$68,008
Utica, NY$67,822
Rochester, NY$67,712
Des Moines, IA$67,705
Raleigh, NC$67,698
Atlanta, GA$67,594
Battle Creek, MI$67,574
Salt Lake City, UT$67,553
Lancaster, PA$67,449
Harrisburg, PA$67,353
Kansas City, MO$67,284
Champaign, IL$67,270
Kansas City, KS$67,270
Fort Worth, TX$67,263
Columbus, OH$67,251
Boca Raton, FL$67,235
Pittsburgh, PA$67,208
Richmond, VA$67,180
Indianapolis, IN$67,166
Cleveland, OH$67,159
Las Vegas, NV$67,077
Cincinnati, OH$67,077
Petersburg, VA$66,973
Huntsville, AL$66,869
Lansing, MI$66,823
Lebanon, PA$66,814
Pueblo, CO$66,807
Appleton, WI$66,787
Buffalo, NY$66,759
Dayton, OH$66,738
Racine, WI$66,724
Charlotte, NC$66,718
Saint Louis, MO$66,697
York, PA$66,655
Elkhart, IN$66,655
Gastonia, NC$66,642
Billings, MT$66,626
Beaumont, TX$66,607
Lorain, OH$66,593
Benton Harbor, MI$66,580
Toledo, OH$66,566
Binghamton, NY$66,531
Rock Hill, SC$66,524
Rockford, IL$66,490
Springfield, IL$66,462
Elyria, OH$66,455
Fargo, ND$66,455
Flagstaff, AZ$66,407
Fort Lauderdale, FL$66,366
Duluth, MN$66,324
Miami, FL$66,324
Cheyenne, WY$66,276
Grand Forks, ND$66,276
Bangor, ME$66,124
Cedar Rapids, IA$66,048
Durham, NC$66,019
Louisville, KY$66,013
Grand Rapids, MI$66,000
Hialeah, FL$65,993
Casper, WY$65,896
Scranton, PA$65,813
New Orleans, LA$65,793
Virginia Beach, VA$65,786
Akron, OH$65,751
Peoria, IL$65,661
Sarasota, FL$65,648
Nashville, TN$65,599
Omaha, NE$65,599
Green Bay, WI$65,599
Baton Rouge, LA$65,565
Charleston, SC$65,551
Jamestown, NY$65,516
Davenport, IA$65,516
Tucson, AZ$65,482
Saint Petersburg, FL$65,441
Tampa, FL$65,427
Evansville, IN$65,385
Port Arthur, TX$65,385
Bradenton, FL$65,358
Santa Fe, NM$65,233
Orlando, FL$65,109
Clearwater, FL$65,088
Canton, OH$64,944
La Crosse, WI$64,944
Albuquerque, NM$64,902
Newport News, VA$64,895
High Point, NC$64,874
Ogden, UT$64,847
Corpus Christi, TX$64,792
Norfolk, VA$64,750
Laramie, WY$64,750
Rock Island, IL$64,709
Saginaw, MI$64,695
Jacksonville, FL$64,688
Salisbury, NC$64,674
Boise, ID$64,660
Moline, IL$64,626
Fort Myers, FL$64,605
Memphis, TN$64,591
Tulsa, OK$64,557
Waterloo, IA$64,516
Spartanburg, SC$64,447
Lincoln, NE$64,412
Fort Wayne, IN$64,398
Provo, UT$64,391
Cedar Falls, IA$64,308
San Antonio, TX$64,281
Greensboro, NC$64,253
South Bend, IN$64,246
Savannah, GA$64,170
Muskegon, MI$64,143
Birmingham, AL$64,136
Winston Salem, NC$64,102
Lake Charles, LA$63,936
Anderson, IN$63,922
Lexington, KY$63,901
Augusta, GA$63,880
Greenville, SC$63,880
Lima, OH$63,825
Wichita, KS$63,818
Tuscaloosa, AL$63,818
Columbia, SC$63,756
Springfield, OH$63,742
Asheville, NC$63,632
Bloomington, IN$63,584
Knoxville, TN$63,335
Shreveport, LA$63,328
Wilmington, NC$63,238
Roanoke, VA$63,238
Topeka, KS$63,114
Frankfort, KY$63,107
Oklahoma City, OK$63,059
Chillicothe, OH$63,031
Longview, TX$63,024
Melbourne, FL$63,018
Sioux Falls, SD$62,907
Mobile, AL$62,900
Terre Haute, IN$62,873
Altoona, PA$62,831
Amarillo, TX$62,783
Killeen, TX$62,762
Fayetteville, AR$62,707
Chattanooga, TN$62,686
Sioux City, IA$62,624
Idaho Falls, ID$62,610
Lynchburg, VA$62,555
Gainesville, FL$62,465
Portsmouth, OH$62,431
Little Rock, AR$62,417
Lafayette, LA$62,389
Youngstown, OH$62,389
Daytona Beach, FL$62,348
Clarksville, TN$62,341
Pensacola, FL$62,334
Temple, TX$62,329
Hopkinsville, KY$62,127
Erie, PA$62,113
Florence, SC$62,086
Charleston, WV$61,975
Great Falls, MT$61,941
Macon, GA$61,844
Tallahassee, FL$61,837
Fayetteville, NC$61,823
Waco, TX$61,810
Helena, MT$61,761
Pine Bluff, AR$61,735
Vincennes, IN$61,651
Lubbock, TX$61,623
Alamogordo, NM$61,582
Twin Falls, ID$61,520
Rapid City, SD$61,499
Jackson, MS$61,375
Huntington, WV$61,370
Greenville, MS$61,368
Parkersburg, WV$61,297
Montgomery, AL$61,285
Wichita Falls, TX$61,216
Springfield, MO$61,216
Biloxi, MS$61,181
Monroe, LA$61,112
Johnstown, PA$61,064
Sumter, SC$61,036
Columbus, GA$61,030
Pascagoula, MS$60,898
Abilene, TX$60,898
Kingsport, TN$60,719
Albany, GA$60,719
Gulfport, MS$60,698
Alexandria, LA$60,470
Fort Smith, AR$60,298
El Paso, TX$60,111
Las Cruces, NM$59,801
Harlingen, TX$59,625
Pocatello, ID$59,614
Florence, AL$59,525
Brownsville, TX$59,511
Mcallen, TX$59,366
Dothan, AL$59,269
Columbus, MS$58,859
Altus, OK$58,538
Lawton, OK$58,406
Pierre, SD$58,158
What Skills Can Increase an Online Instructional Designer's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Leadership (Mentioned in 4.97% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.93% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Online Learning (Mentioned in 1.17% Job Postings): An education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as “e- learning” among other terms.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Leadership
4.97%
Microsoft Office
1.93%
Online Learning
1.17%
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 Online Instructional Designer's salary.
Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Storyboard: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Team Development
$73,862
7%
Consulting
$73,862
7%
Storyboard
$73,172
6%
Instructor-Led Training
$73,172
6%
Content Development
$73,172
6%
Commitment
$72,482
5%
Get Latest Data
Online Instructional Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Online Instructional Designer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare,
offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely,
Online Instructional Designer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Online Instructional Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for an Online Instructional Designer
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$75,933
$37.0
10%
How Education impacts an Online Instructional Designer's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Online Instructional Designers 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 Online Instructional Designer with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$63,851
and $69,337).
Online Instructional Designer Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Online Instructional Designer
Understanding how an Online Instructional Designer'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
$60,109
Average$69,030/year
$80,271
$5,009
Average$5,753/month
$6,689
$1,156
Average$1,328/week
$1,544
$29
Average$33/hour
$39
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$80,271
$6,689
$1,544
$39
Average
$69,030
$5,753
$1,328
$33
25th Percentile
$60,109
$5,009
$1,156
$29
Salaries of jobs related to Online Instructional Designer
Salaries for an Online Instructional Designer can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $57,436 in 2023
to around $55,990 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Online Instructional Designer salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Online Instructional Designer Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$57,436
2024
$56,586
2025
$55,990
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$57,436
2024
$56,586
2025
$55,990
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Online Instructional Designer
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Online Instructional Designer
Here are companies hiring for Online Instructional Designer and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Online Instructional Designer
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Online Instructional Designer?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Online Instructional Designer roles,
with salaries approximately 10% 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.
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