Becoming an instructional designer typically follows five steps: earn a bachelor’s degree, build a foundation in adult learning theory and models such as ADDIE and SAM, learn industry-standard authoring tools, assemble a design portfolio and, for senior roles, complete a master’s degree in instructional design or educational technology. Many professionals enter the field of instructional design after working as teachers, corporate trainers or content developers in a related field, then formalize their skills through programs like the online Master of Science in Education (MSEd.) in Curriculum & Instruction – Teaching Technology program at Northwest Missouri State University.
The field has grown well beyond the traditional classroom, with instructional designers now building training programs for corporate teams, healthcare systems, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Graduate coursework in curriculum design, learning theory and instructional technology helps working professionals move from entry-level design tasks into strategic, higher-paying roles.
How Do I Become an Instructional Designer?
There is no single licensing path into instructional design, but most professionals move through the same core milestones in roughly the same order. The steps below reflect the pathway most hiring managers expect to see on a resume, from initial education through the credentials that unlock senior roles. Following them in sequence helps aspiring designers build a portfolio and skill set that employers can evaluate quickly.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree. Most entry-level instructional design roles require a four-year degree, and majors in education, psychology, communications or instructional technology provide the strongest foundation in learning theory and communication.
- Build instructional design skills. Aspiring designers study adult learning theory and instructional design models, most commonly ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) and SAM (Successive Approximation Model), to learn how to structure effective training.
- Learn industry-standard authoring tools. Employers expect working knowledge of e-learning authoring software such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Camtasia and Vyond, along with the learning management systems used to deliver finished courses.
- Build a portfolio of design samples. A portfolio that showcases finished courses, storyboards and multimedia projects gives hiring managers concrete evidence of design skill, and it often matters more to employers than a resume alone.
- Pursue a master’s degree for senior roles. A master’s degree in instructional design, educational technology or a related field is not required for entry-level work, but it is the most direct path into leadership, higher education and corporate learning and development roles.
Experience matters as much as formal coursework. Classroom teaching, corporate training and curriculum development roles all give aspiring designers a chance to apply theory, and many employers view hands-on training delivery as comparable preparation for an instructional design career. Building familiarity with a learning management system and at least one authoring tool during this stage makes the transition into a dedicated design role considerably smoother.
What Does an Instructional Designer Do?
According to the Association for Talent Development (ATD), an instructional designer applies learning theory to design course content, learning activities and other training solutions that help learners gain new knowledge or real-world skills. In practice, that means talking with stakeholders to identify a skill gap, writing clear learning objectives and then building the training itself, whether that is an online course, a workshop or a job aid. Designers also choose the delivery format, online, in-person or blended, and evaluate whether the finished training actually improved performance.
The specific tasks of the job vary by setting, though the underlying process stays fairly consistent. An instructional designer might build an online compliance course for a hospital system, develop interactive science lessons for a K-12 district or design a leadership training program for a large corporation, and each of these projects still moves through the same needs assessment, design and evaluation steps. This mix of creative and analytical work is part of why the field attracts career-changers from teaching, corporate training and content strategy.
Most job postings for instructional designers list specific software proficiency as a requirement, so building comfort with a small set of industry-standard tools early pays off. Four platforms show up most consistently across job descriptions and design portfolios.
- Articulate Storyline 360 is the most widely used authoring tool for building custom, interactive e-learning courses with branching scenarios and quizzes.
- Adobe Captivate is strong for responsive design and realistic software simulations, which makes it a common choice for technical and compliance training.
- Camtasia is a screen recording and video editing tool that instructional designers use to produce tutorials, walkthroughs and narrated lessons.
- Vyond is an animation platform that helps designers create polished explainer videos and custom characters without a background in graphic design.
None of these tools require a computer science background to learn, and most instructional designers pick up one or two through short online tutorials well before they start a formal degree program. Employers generally care less about which specific tool a candidate knows than whether the candidate’s portfolio demonstrates strong design thinking.
What Degree Do You Need to Be an Instructional Designer?
Most instructional design positions require at least a bachelor’s degree, though the field is unusually open to candidates from different academic backgrounds. Common undergraduate majors include education, psychology, communications and instructional technology, each of which builds relevant skills in learning theory, written communication or audience analysis. Employers are typically more interested in demonstrated design skill and a strong portfolio than in a specific major.
Candidates without a bachelor’s degree sometimes qualify for entry-level roles if they have substantial hands-on experience developing and delivering training, particularly in a specific industry such as healthcare or manufacturing. A graduate certificate in instructional technology or instructional design can also help career-changers build credibility quickly, without the time commitment of a full master’s degree. For most professionals, though, a bachelor’s degree combined with a growing portfolio remains the standard entry point into the field.
Common undergraduate coursework that supports a future in instructional design includes educational psychology, instructional technology, curriculum design and technical or business writing. Students who also take on a work-study role or internship in a training department gain a meaningful head start once they begin building a professional portfolio.
Do You Need a Master’s to Be an Instructional Designer?
A master’s degree is not required to work as an instructional designer, but it is the most direct path into senior design roles, higher education positions and corporate learning and development leadership. Graduate programs such as Northwest’s online MSEd. in Curriculum & Instruction – Teaching Technology program build deeper expertise in curriculum implementation, assessment design and the instructional design models that guide professional practice. That depth of training becomes especially valuable once a designer is responsible for an organization’s entire training strategy rather than a single course.
Two instructional design models come up in almost every graduate program and job interview, and understanding both is a practical way to demonstrate readiness for advanced work. ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) and SAM (Successive Approximation Model) approach the same goal, effective training, from different directions.
- ADDIE follows a linear, step-by-step sequence: each phase (analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation) is completed and reviewed before the next one begins, which makes it well suited to highly regulated or compliance-driven training.
- SAM, created by Allen Interactions, works in short, repeated design and development cycles instead of a single straight line, so stakeholders can review working prototypes early and often.
- ADDIE tends to produce more consistent, thoroughly documented training, while SAM tends to produce usable drafts faster and adapts more easily to late-breaking feedback.
- Many instructional designers borrow from both models, using ADDIE’s analysis and design phases to set clear objectives and then applying SAM’s iterative development and testing to refine the finished course.
Graduate coursework typically introduces both models in depth, along with newer agile and rapid-prototyping approaches. Being able to explain when to use each one is a common interview question for mid-level and senior instructional design roles.
How Much Does an Instructional Designer Make?
Salary estimates for instructional designers vary by source and methodology, but most place the national average between the high $60,000s and low $90,000s. PayScale reports an average salary of $72,801, while Glassdoor’s data skews higher at an average of $92,000 per year, reflecting differences in how each platform samples job titles and experience levels. Indeed places the national average closer to the middle of that range, at $68,038 per year.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracks a closely related occupation, training and development specialists, and reported a median annual wage of $65,850 in May 2024. BLS projects employment in that occupation to grow 11% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 43,900 openings projected each year as organizations continue expanding digital and hybrid training programs. Experienced instructional designers who move into leadership can expect meaningfully higher pay than these entry-level figures.
With experience, many instructional designers advance into roles such as senior instructional designer, learning experience designer or training and development manager, and the most experienced practitioners move into director of learning and development or chief learning officer positions. These leadership roles typically require a track record of measurable training outcomes rather than a specific credential, which is part of why building a strong portfolio early in a career pays dividends for years.
Learn more about Northwest’s online MSEd. in Curriculum & Instruction – Teaching Technology program and how it prepares instructional design leaders.
About Northwest’s Online MSEd. in Curriculum & Instruction – Teaching Technology Program
Northwest Missouri State University’s online Master of Science in Education (MSEd.) in Curriculum and Instruction – Teaching Technology program prepares educators and training professionals to design, implement and evaluate digital learning experiences. The curriculum covers instructional theory, program evaluation, data-driven instruction and digital design strategy, giving graduates the practical skills instructional designers use every day. Students can typically complete the program part-time while continuing to work full-time.
Northwest Missouri State University is a public university in Maryville, Missouri, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The university has offered online graduate programs for working professionals for more than a decade, with faculty who bring direct classroom and instructional design experience into course design. Learn more about Northwest’s online MSEd. in Curriculum and Instruction – Teaching Technology program.
