CareerFacts

All careers › Instructional Coordinators

Instructional coordinator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$77,440median pay per year, or $37.23 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $47,980lowest 10% earn less
  2. $60,78025th percentile
  3. $77,440median
  4. $98,82075th percentile
  5. $121,670top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for instructional coordinators was $77,440 a year in May 2025[1]. The typical entry path asks for a master's degree and related work experience[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.6%[5]
Openings per year
23,100[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[2]

How much do instructional coordinators make?

The official BLS category is Instructional Coordinators, and workers in it report job titles that include instructional designer[7]. The figures below are for the whole category.

In May 2025, the median wage was $77,440 a year, or $37.23 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was $80,920 a year, or $38.90 an hour[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. That puts this group well above the all-occupations median.

Here is the spread of wages:

Point Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $47,980 $23.07
25th percentile[3][9] $60,780 $29.22
Median[1] $77,440 $37.23
75th percentile[3][9] $98,820 $47.51
90th percentile[3][9] $121,670 $58.49

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $47,980, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $121,670[3][10]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[11].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median annual wage at $105,990, followed by Maryland at $102,220 and Washington at $97,250[12]. South Dakota had the lowest median in the list at $57,910[12].

Texas had the most jobs at 31,970, then California at 20,950 and New York at 18,730[13]. Florida (18,030) and Illinois (10,330) rounded out the top five[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Kennewick-Richland, WA had the highest median at $114,320[14]. Merced, CA followed at $106,710, then San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $105,890[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with 15,240 and a median of $85,730[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$105,9901,220
Maryland$102,2204,350
Washington$97,2504,720
California$97,01020,950
Connecticut$96,1701,780
New Jersey$96,0903,770
Hawaii$96,0801,130
Massachusetts$95,3206,170
Oregon$84,6202,940
Virginia$83,2305,830
Wisconsin$83,0002,130
Colorado$82,1603,400
New Hampshire$81,210510
Georgia$81,0607,830
New Mexico$80,870510
New York$80,56018,730
Minnesota$80,5503,130
Delaware$79,290980
Michigan$79,2905,680
Nebraska$79,1501,370
Texas$78,71031,970
Vermont$78,360730
Ohio$77,7603,510
Maine$76,700480
Wyoming$76,140290
Illinois$76,05010,330
Pennsylvania$75,5807,540
North Dakota$75,340650
Iowa$74,9702,760
Tennessee$74,3904,120
Alaska$72,320550
Missouri$72,0803,110
West Virginia$69,600730
Alabama$69,0002,040
Nevada$67,4101,130
Arkansas$67,1001,300
Indiana$66,3002,640
Utah$65,7803,680
South Carolina$65,4604,370
Kansas$64,7501,950
Oklahoma$63,9802,540
Kentucky$63,6403,380
North Carolina$63,3408,260
Louisiana$63,1202,140
Rhode Island$63,1101,240
Idaho$63,0301,490
Arizona$62,6206,560
Mississippi$61,8301,840
Montana$60,920740
Florida$60,79018,030
South Dakota$57,910500

How to become an instructional coordinator

BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education, plus 5 years or more of related work experience[2].

Coordinators in public schools may also need a state-issued license, either a teaching license or a license for education administrators[19][20]. BLS advises checking with your state's Board of Education for the exact rules[20]. The typical on-the-job training after entry is none[2].

In an O*NET survey of 28 workers, 60% said a master's degree was required, 25% said a bachelor's degree, and 11% said a post-master's certificate[21].

With more experience and more education, coordinators may become superintendents[22].

What instructional coordinators do

Instructional coordinators develop teaching materials, coordinate educational content and bring current technology into instruction[23]. They may also train and coach teachers[23]. Typical tasks include:

Good analytical, communication, decision-making, interpersonal and leadership skills matter in the job[25][26][27][28][29].

Where they work

Instructional coordinators are found in schools, colleges, professional schools, educational support services and state and local governments[30]. In 2025, local elementary and secondary schools were the largest employer, at 35%[31].

Coordinators generally work full time and year round, without summer breaks[32]. Some meetings with teachers and administrators may fall outside classroom hours[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of instructional coordinators to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 248,700 to 252,800 jobs[5]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[33]. So this group is expected to grow more slowly than the overall average.

BLS projects about 23,100 openings a year on average[6]. The count includes positions left by people who retire or change occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, about 4.9% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a well-paid field with a high bar to enter. The median of $77,440 is well above the $50,980 all-occupations median[1][4]. But the typical path needs a master's degree and 5 years or more of related experience[2]. Projected growth of 1.6% is below the 3.5% rate for all occupations, though about 23,100 openings a year are projected[5][33][6]. The work is mostly in schools and government, and it is typically full time and year round[30][32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an instructional designer make?
BLS reports on the category Instructional Coordinators, and workers in it report instructional designer among their job titles[7]. Their median was $77,440 a year in May 2025[1].
How much does an instructional coordinator make an hour?
The median was $37.23 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $23.07 and the 90th was $58.49[9].
What degree do you need to be an instructional coordinator?
The typical entry education is a master's degree, with 5 years or more of related work experience[2]. Public school coordinators are required to have a master's in education or curriculum and instruction[17].
Is instructional coordinator a growing job?
Employment is projected to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][33].
Which state pays instructional coordinators the most?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $105,990, followed by Maryland at $102,220[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Instructional Coordinators in the US was $77,440 per year and $37.23 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Instructional Coordinators: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Instructional Coordinators: 10th percentile $47,980, 25th percentile $60,780, 75th percentile $98,820, 90th percentile $121,670. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Instructional Coordinators is projected to grow 1.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 248,700 to 252,800 jobs (a change of +4,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 23,100 openings for Instructional Coordinators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 25-9031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Curriculum and Instruction Director, Curriculum Coordinator, Curriculum Director, Curriculum Specialist, Education Specialist, Instructional Designer, Instructional Systems Specialist, Instructional Technologist. O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Instructional Coordinators was $80,920 per year and $38.90 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Instructional Coordinators: 10th percentile $23.07, 25th percentile $29.22, 75th percentile $47.51, 90th percentile $58.49. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Instructional Coordinators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Instructional Coordinators jobs: Texas 31,970; California 20,950; New York 18,730; Florida 18,030; Illinois 10,330. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Instructional Coordinators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Kennewick-Richland, WA $114,320; Merced, CA $106,710; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $105,890; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $105,790; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $105,720; Vallejo, CA $105,400; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $105,220; Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $104,950. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Instructional Coordinators jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 15,240 (median $85,730); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 9,080 (median $80,740); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 8,030 (median $77,430); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 7,790 (median $77,900); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,300 (median $84,850); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,190 (median $105,220). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 25-9031.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 60%, Bachelor's Degree 25%, Post-Master's Certificate 11% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Instructional Coordinators. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Instructional Coordinators. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of instructional coordinators in 2025: Elementary and secondary schools; local 35%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Instructional Coordinators: 4.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.