Salary data · BLS OEWS 2025
Instructional Designer Salary in the US
A Instructional Designer earns a national median of $77,440 per year. Here is how pay breaks down across US metro areas.
In Brief
Instructional Designer (BLS occupation 25-9031) earns a national median of $77,440 and a mean of $80,920 per year as of 2025. The highest-paying metro is San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad at $105,890. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
National pay
Top-paying US metro areas
Ranked by median annual wage · BLS OEWS 2025
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About this data
All wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, mapped to occupation code 25-9031 (Instructional Coordinators). Figures are gross annual wages before tax and reflect employees only — self-employed and freelance earnings are not included.
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How much does a Instructional Designer earn in the US?▼
The national median wage for a Instructional Designer is $77,440 per year (mean $80,920), per the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for 2025.
Which US cities pay Instructional Designers the most?▼
The top-paying metro areas are San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ($105,890), Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ($105,220), San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley ($103,400).
Where does this Instructional Designer salary data come from?▼
All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, occupation code 25-9031. Wages are gross annual, before tax.
Is Instructional Designer a well-paid career?▼
At a median of $77,440/year, Instructional Designer pay sits above the US median for all occupations. Pay varies widely by metro — see the city table above.