Hiring an instructional designer: the market today
The short answer ·
109 open postings ask for an instructional designer as of Oct 22, 2026, from 64 employers. The median advertised pay is $92,000, taking the midpoint of each posted range. 58 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.
109open postings
64employers hiring
$92,000median advertised pay
58new in 30 days
Who you're competing with
Open postings · Ayla, Oct 22, 2026
What it pays
Advertised pay (range midpoints), 73 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Aug 2026
Questions buyers ask
How hard is it to hire an instructional designer?
Competitive. 64 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Leidos with 6 open postings.
What should I pay an instructional designer?
Advertised pay centers on $92,000. Federal staff in series 1750 average $133,481 in actual pay.
Where is an instructional designer being hired?
As of Oct 22, 2026, the most open postings for the role are in Virginia (22), California (14) and Texas (14). Together they hold 46% of its 109 open postings.