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Instructional Technology

A program that focuses on integrating technology into educational curricula. Includes instruction in foundations of educational technology, computer applications, utilizing technology for assessment, multimedia instruction, web-based instruction, distance education, and designing and producing educational software and materials. Examples: [Advanced Learning Technologies]

Types of Degrees Instructional Technology Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Instructional Technology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	107
Associate’s Degree	116
Bachelor’s Degree	150
Master’s Degree	8,227
Doctor’s Degree	261

What Instructional Technology Majors Need to Know

Programs in Instructional Technology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Instructional Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Instructional Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Education and Training — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 6.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Instructional Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Learning Strategies — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Instructional Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Instructional Technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.5 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.5 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Developing Objectives and Strategies	4.1 / 7
Coaching and Developing Others	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Instructional Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Blackboard software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Publisher	Desktop publishing software	—
Adobe InDesign	Desktop publishing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Visio	Process mapping and design software	—
Drupal	Web platform development software	—
Adobe Creative Cloud software	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Instructional Technology graduates include:

• Course Developer
• Curriculum Developer
• Courseware Developer
• Instructional Technologist
• Instructional Technology Specialist
• E-Learning Instructional Designer (Electronic Learning Instructional Designer)
• Educational Specialist
• Instructional Specialist
• Instructional Design Technologist
• Curriculum Facilitator
• Curriculum and Assessment Director
• Learning Design Specialist
• Technology Integration Specialist
• Instructional Materials Director
• Special Education Curriculum Specialist

What Can You Do With a Instructional Technology Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Instructional Technology commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Instructional Coordinators	-1.3%	$40,936	$31,865–$50,006
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	9.4%	$67,096	$57,552–$76,640

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Instructional Technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	45.9%
Bachelor’s degree	35.9%
Post-master’s certificate	7.5%
First professional degree	2.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.6%
Some college courses	2.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.1%
Postsecondary certificate	0.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.4%
Doctoral degree	0.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Instructional Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 74.8% of Instructional Technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	6,643	74.8%
Men	2,236	25.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Instructional Technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	5,490	61.8%
Asian	464	5.2%
Hispanic or Latino	918	10.3%
Black or African American	786	8.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	48	0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	8	0.1%
Two or More Races	251	2.8%
Race Unknown	448	5.0%
International Students	466	5.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Instructional Technology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Instructional Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$64,362
4 years	$60,788
5 years	$68,561

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $68,561 — roughly 7% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Instructional Technology Programs

Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Instructional Technology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Bachelor’s	8	2
Master’s	163	56
Doctoral (Research)	12	8

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Instructional Technology Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Instructional Technology graduates earn a median of $60,788 four years after completion — roughly 60% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Curriculum and Instruction	21,331
Educational/Instructional Media Design	8,879
Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching	901

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.