Important Facts About Instructional Technologists
| Required Education | Master's degree |
| Work Environment | Office, school |
| Key Skills | Analytics, leadership, communication, decision making, communication, interpersonal skills |
| Similar Occupations | Teacher, principal, librarian |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Job Duties
As an instructional technology specialist, you must be a proficient planner, problem solver, and researcher. Advanced Internet skills and computer knowledge are also needed to effectively carry out your tasks. Typical job duties that you'll hold include integrating technology into the curricula of various grade levels, from elementary school to college. You'll also focus on how to use technology to assist different types of learners, including advanced students, those with learning disabilities or English as a Second Language students. Particular emphasis is given to adapting curriculum to improve reading and math skills.
An instructional technology specialist often oversees the online educational programs that are offered by schools and universities, including online courses or supplemental course materials posted on class Web pages. If you work as an instructional technology specialist, you'll evaluate how well other instructors implement technology into the classroom and provide suggestions on improvement, as well as educational software recommendations.
Career Outlook and Salary Statistics
To gain an instructional technology specialist position at a school, you typically must hold a graduate degree in education, curriculum development, or instructional technology. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov) reported that some public schools require their instructional coordinators to also be licensed teachers. PayScale.com reported that the median yearly salary for instructional technology specialists was $54,931 as of January 2023.
The BLS stated that between 2021 and 2031, instructional coordinator positions were projected to increase by 7%. The wide majority of instructional coordinators were employed at elementary and secondary schools, and these workers made an annual mean income of $73,560 as of May 2021, according to the BLS. Universities, educational support services, and junior colleges were other popular employers of instructional coordinators, but the BLS reported that these fields offered lower salaries than Federal executive branch.
