The downside of being a corporate instructional designer: 6 career truths before you pivot

If you’re reading this article, you’re likely exploring a career as a corporate instructional designer. In recent years, instructional design has gained visibility, with companies increasing hires during the pandemic to support digital learning initiatives. Many K12 teachers are transitioning from teaching to instructional design by promises of “easy six figures”, “great work-life balance”, and “plenty of remote opportunities”.

While there’s some truth to these promises, the reality is not always so rosy. After five years in this industry—and with plans to continue for the foreseeable future—I’d like to share a few insights you may want to consider before diving in. This isn’t to discourage you, but to offer a balanced perspective.

Myth 1. Corporate IDs land six-figure jobs easily

Here is the payment information from the bureau of labor statistic. If you are based in the US, the annual mean wage is $82,680. According to another source, Glassdoor, the top 10% highest-earning instructional designer in Portland, Oregon (one of the top 15 most expensive cities in the U.S.), is around $96,000. Certain industries—such as tech, finance, and pharmaceuticals—may pay more handsomely, but instructional design isn’t generally an easy path to multiple six-figure earnings, especially when you are just starting out.

Myth 2. All instructional designer titles are created equal!

Instructional design is truly an umbrella term. Many industries hire instructional designers (IDs), but each organization often defines the role slightly differently.

In the corporate world, there are two main types of training: internal and external. Internal training typically falls under the Learning and Development (L&D) department, which often collaborates closely with HR or talent teams. Nearly all Fortune 500 companies have an internal L&D team, as investing in employee growth is essential for large organizations. Some companies also focus on external training, especially in SaaS and tech industries, where educating customers, users, and distribution partners is critical. Instructional designers in these roles are usually part of the customer experience or customer success teams, creating handbooks, job aids, video tutorials, and learning paths to help users effectively understand and use tech products.

Another career path for instructional designers involves working for agencies or freelancing. There are generally two types of agencies: staffing agencies and specialty vendors. Staffing agencies provide companies with temporary IDs to support surges in learning projects or fulfill short-term needs. I’ve received outreach from recruiters for contract roles with companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, Accenture, and Nike. Specialty vendors, however, focus on specific training solutions, such as developing business simulations using proprietary software to model complex scenarios, or designing components that facilitate behavioral changes. Freelancing can also be an appealing option, offering the flexibility to choose and manage projects independently. However, freelancers must be skilled in project management and comfortable with project uncertainty.

Government agencies and nonprofits also hire instructional designers. For instance, the state of California hires IDs to develop e-learning modules on safety and health topics. Outside the corporate sector, many instructional designers work in higher education. Almost all U.S. universities employ teaching and learning specialists or instructional designers who work closely with faculty, particularly during the academic year, to enhance instructional strategies and course materials.

Truth 1. You could burn out as a corporate instructional designer as well – if that’s what you’re running away from!

One of the key reasons why teachers are running away from the classroom to a corporate instructional design career is that they are burnt out by the increasing amount of responsibilities and sad pays …

Here’s an edited version for clarity and flow:

While corporate roles generally offer better pay, burnout and feeling like just another cog in the machine are still common. Many projects come with tight deadlines, leaving instructional designers little time for thorough needs analysis and thoughtful design. You’re often juggling multiple tasks at once—some projects may be in the early stages of interviewing subject matter experts, while others are in the hectic phase of outlining and asset development. As soon as one project wraps up, another quickly takes its place.

https://www.reddit.com/r/instructionaldesign/comments/1eflvyg/over_a_decade_in_ld_and_im_out/

Truth 2. You work solo and likely be in silo for most of the time

In most companies, you’re likely one of only a few instructional designers—sometimes even the only one. With many instructional design roles now remote, it can be challenging for junior designers to shadow senior colleagues or for ID colleagues to connect, share insights, and discuss their approaches to instructional design.

Truth 3. Instructional design is inherently a support function, which means it may not offer the same exciting career growth opportunities as roles in fields like engineering, sales, or product management

If you’re seeking a fast-growing career trajectory, instructional design may not be the right fit. Unlike sales roles, where you can earn commissions, or tech jobs, which benefit from the leverage of platform effects, instructional design jobs are typically salaried. You’re paid for the hours you spend working on projects.

Unless you’re working for a company whose revenue depends on selling courses (such as certain EdTech or publishing companies, or customer education teams that sell certificates), most instructional design roles are not considered ‘business-critical.’ As a result, when the economy slows, these jobs may be more vulnerable, as companies look for ways to cut costs.

Truth 4. You miss some human interaction parts you usually get when teaching

One thing transitioning teachers might miss in their new instructional design roles is the human interaction they enjoyed in the classroom—meeting students and colleagues regularly. Most corporate instructional design jobs are behind-the-scenes, where you still interact with people, such as your project team, clients, and subject matter experts, but you often work heads-down for long periods — There are days in my week when I don’t have any calls and spend the entire time writing content or producing graphics for my projects.

Truth 5. Although AI isn’t killing this profession, outsourcing could be your biggest enemy

With the boom of generative AI and ChatGPT, certain changes are happening in this With the rise of generative AI and ChatGPT, the instructional design industry is experiencing notable changes. More people are turning to AI for brainstorming, scenario creation, and editing/proofreading. AI-generated voiceovers for video demos and eLearning are also becoming increasingly common.

While I don’t believe AI will replace instructional designers, outsourcing is growing trend. The experience of managing remote or offshore teams during COVID proved that it can be done effectively. There’s an ongoing trend toward hiring contractors for specific project needs and moving full-time positions offshore to lower-cost countries like India, Colombia, and Eastern European countries.

Truth 6. Breaking into a new industry as an ID isn’t easy even when you get rich ID experience

Instructional design roles are often highly industry-specific, with companies favoring candidates who have experience within their sector. For example, healthcare organizations tend to prioritize designers with a background in medical training, while financial institutions prefer candidates who have worked in regulated industries. This hiring bias can make it challenging for instructional designers to transition between sectors, as each industry values its unique regulatory knowledge, audience familiarity, and content expertise. However, understanding these preferences and aligning one’s portfolio and skills to industry expectations can help instructional designers overcome this barrier and expand their career opportunities across fields.

Concluding remarks

The purpose of this article is not to convince you that this is not a good career to pursue. I know many who are passionate about their careers in instructional design. This blog post aims to provide some perspectives on what the role may look like, helping you make an informed career decision. If you want to pivot to this career, read also 9 great instructional design portfolio examples.

References:

1. Payscale – instructional designer salary https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Instructional_Designer/Salary
2. BLS: instructional designer salary https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/instructional-coordinators.htm
3. Glassdoor – instructional designer salary https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/instructional-designer-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm
4. Reddit: After over a decade in L&D I am out https://www.reddit.com/r/instructionaldesign/comments/1eflvyg/over_a_decade_in_ld_and_im_out/