Helps teachers and faculty use classroom technology, learning platforms and digital tools to improve how students learn. BLS does not publish separate figures for instructional coordinators; it counts them within instructional coordinator (SOC 25-9031), whose median pay is $77,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 25-9031
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Instructional Technologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $77,440a year, or $37.23/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $122K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.6%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 23,100248,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025248.7K
- Projected 2035252.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 248.7K Projected 2035 252.8K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's24.8%
- Post-bacc certificate0.1%
- Master's59.8%
- Post-master’s certificate10.9%
- Professional degree4.2%
- Doctorate0.1%
Highest education held by instructional coordinators Segment Value Bachelor's 24.8% Post-bacc certificate 0.1% Master's 59.8% Post-master’s certificate 10.9% Professional degree 4.2% Doctorate 0.1%
Also advertised as: Educational Technologist, Instructional Technology Specialist, EdTech Coach, Technology Integration Specialist, Digital Learning Specialist.
Pay
How much do Instructional Coordinators make?
Every instructional technologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$77,440
Middle half earn $60,780 to $98,820
- 10th
- $47,980
- 25th
- $60,780
- 75th
- $98,820
- 90th
- $121,670
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,980 |
| 25th | $60,780 |
| Median | $77,440 |
| 75th | $98,820 |
| 90th | $121,670 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $77,440
- Median hourly wage
- $37.23/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $80,920
- People employed
- 227,760
Versus all US occupations
At $77,440, Instructional Coordinators earn 52% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $26,460 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 13% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $121,670 or more while the bottom 10% earn $47,980, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 54% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($105,990), but once local prices are taken into account Maryland leads at $97,390 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Instructional Coordinators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $105,990 | $96,441 | 1,220 |
| 2Maryland | $102,220 | $97,390 | 4,350 |
| 3Washington | $97,250 | $90,877 | 4,720 |
| 4California | $97,010 | $87,617 | 20,950 |
| 5Connecticut | $96,170 | $92,819 | 1,780 |
| 6New Jersey | $96,090 | $88,314 | 3,770 |
| 7Hawaii | $96,080 | $87,384 | 1,130 |
| 8Massachusetts | $95,320 | $90,131 | 6,170 |
| 9Oregon | $84,620 | $81,868 | 2,940 |
| 10Virginia | $83,230 | $82,321 | 5,830 |
Job outlook
Is Instructional Technologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructional Coordinators | +1.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Instructional Coordinators to change 1.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 4,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 23,100 openings are projected each year, 9.3% of the 248,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Instructional Technologist
Many instructional technologists start as classroom teachers and move into a technology coaching role after a few years. A master's degree in educational technology, instructional technology or curriculum and instruction is common and is often required for district coordinator positions. Some states offer a technology specialist endorsement on a teaching license.
ISTE publishes the ISTE Standards for Educators and Coaches, and its ISTE Certification is widely recognized. Vendor credentials such as Google Certified Educator or Apple Learning Coach help as evidence of hands-on skill. In higher education, instructional technologists often come from instructional design or library backgrounds, and a portfolio of courses they have helped build carries weight.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as instructional coordinators.
- Master's Degree59.8%
- Bachelor's Degree24.8%
- Post-Master's Certificate10.9%
- First Professional Degree4.2%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate0.1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 59.8% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 24.8% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 10.9% |
| First Professional Degree | 4.2% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Instructional Technologist do?
Instructional technologists sit between a school's IT department and its classrooms. In K-12 districts they coach teachers on tools like Google Classroom, Canvas, interactive displays and student devices, model lessons, and help pick software that fits the curriculum. At colleges they work in centers for teaching and learning, helping faculty build online and hybrid courses and use the learning management system well.
The job is part trainer, part consultant and part troubleshooter. Technologists run workshops, write how-to guides, review new apps for accessibility and student privacy, and help administrators plan device rollouts. They also look at usage and achievement data to see whether a tool is actually helping, and retire the ones that are not.
Day-to-day tasks
- Coach teachers on integrating digital tools into lessons
- Lead professional development workshops on learning platforms
- Evaluate educational software for accessibility, privacy and curriculum fit
- Help faculty design online and hybrid courses
- Write tutorials, guides and short training videos
- Plan and support device and software rollouts
- Review usage data to judge whether tools improve learning
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Instructional technologists work in school district offices, individual schools and college teaching centers. In districts they often travel between campuses during the school day. Schedules follow the academic calendar, with summer used for training and new rollouts. The work involves a lot of one-on-one coaching, presenting to groups and responding to urgent help requests.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Learning Strategies4.3
- Writing4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Learning Strategies | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Service Orientation3.6
- Time Management3.6
- Persuasion3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Instructional Technologist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code SIC) built on O*NET's Instructional Coordinator profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Instructional Technologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social6.2
- Investigative4.5
- Conventional4.3
- Enterprising4.3
- Artistic3.6
- Realistic1.6
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Instructional Technologist
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Business and Financial Operations
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Management
- Educational Instruction and Library
Career/Technical Education Teacher, Middle School
$65,030median a year
Most earn $49K to $102K
−0.5%Bachelor's - Educational Instruction and Library
More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with instructional coordinators highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Instructional Technologist$77,440
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Instructional Technologist | $77,440 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Instructional Technologist appears on
Questions
Instructional Technologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Instructional Coordinators make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for instructional coordinators. It counts them within instructional coordinator, whose median pay is $77,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $60,780 and $98,820, and the top 10% earn $121,670 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Instructional Technologist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Instructional Coordinators, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 59.8% hold master's degree.
Is Instructional Technologist a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.6% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 23,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Instructional Technologist do?
Instructional technologists sit between a school's IT department and its classrooms. A typical task: coach teachers on integrating digital tools into lessons. Employers most often ask for Data base management system software, Data base user interface and query software, Desktop publishing software.
Which states pay Instructional Coordinators the most?
The highest state medians for Instructional Coordinators are District of Columbia ($105,990), Maryland ($102,220), Washington ($97,250) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Maryland moves to the top at $97,390.
What personality type suits an Instructional Technologist?
O*NET scores Instructional Coordinators highest on the Social, Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ENFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.