Educational Media Designer Careers: Job Description & Salary Info

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What are the pros and cons of a career in educational media design? Get real job descriptions, career prospect information and salary info to see if becoming an educational media designer is right for you.
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The Pros and Cons of a Career as an Educational Media Designer

Educational media designers, also known as instructional designers and coordinators or curriculum specialists, create and develop educational content for public schools, colleges and businesses, including curriculums and methods that are used by teachers in their classrooms. Find out the pros and cons of becoming an educational media designer to decide if it's the right career for you.

PROS of a Being an Educational Media Designer
Job prospects are expected to be favorable from 2012-2022 (13% for instructional coordinators)*
Generous retirement and health plans through the public school system*
Working to improve academic achievement can be satisfying*
Opportunity to positively impact the education of many students*

CONS of Being an Educational Media Designer
Requires additional education and training beyond a bachelor's degree*
May be required to work long hours and to travel within a certain territory*
Can be difficult to break into this career path without prior experience**
Accountability demands may result in job-related stress*

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), **CareerBuilder.com.

Job Duties, Salary and Career Info

Educational media designers often work for the public school system, private schools, colleges, universities or corporations that produce educational content. They may work with all subjects and grade levels or they may specialize in specialize in one specific subject area, such as math, science, language arts or reading.

Educational media designers in public school districts work under the direction of school district superintendents and work collaboratively with school district administrative personnel, school principals and teachers. Educational media designers in the public school system may have many job duties, including training teachers, introducing new teaching methods and strategies, researching new curriculum and technologies, assessing and monitoring educational programs and implementing technology in classrooms.

Job Prospects and Salary

The BLS reported that the educational media designer career was expected to grow by 13% between 2012 and 2022. This growth rate is about as fast as the average for other career fields.

Educational media designers may work for public schools, colleges, education support services or government offices. Overall, educational media designers earned a mean annual salary of about $64,000 in May 2014, according to the BLS. The mean annual salary for elementary and secondary school education media designers was about $68,000. Those working for colleges earned a mean salary of about $58,000. Those working for educational support services earned a mean salary of about $66,000 and those working for government entities earned a mean annual salary of about $69,000.

What Are the Requirements?

According to the BLS, educational media designers need to complete master's degree, and some may also need a teacher's or administrator's state-issued license. Specific requirements depend largely upon the education supervisor's state of residence and his/her employer's guidelines. Education media designers need the following skills:

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Excellent decision-making skills
  • Proficient use of computer hardware and applications
  • Ability to work with team members and independently
  • Commitment to continuing education
  • Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines

What Employers Are Looking for

Following are some educational media designer job postings to give you an idea of the skills and experience employers were looking for in March 2012:

  • An educational publishing company in Soho, NY, sought a mathematics instructional designer to design and develop an online math intervention program. The selected candidate would be a fast learner and detail oriented and have creative problem solving skills. The primary job responsibilities included writing learning scripts, sequencing lessons and creating visual designs. The prospective employee must have had at least three years of prior experience in instructional design and educational technology as well as prior teaching experience in mathematics. Applicants must have a teaching a certificate and a bachelor's degree in mathematics, education, educational technology or instructional design.
  • An educational publishing company in Manchester, NH, wanted an instructional designer who can create hybrid programming for online college courses. The instructional designer would work collaboratively with subject area experts to create learning activities. The company needs someone who can juggle multiple projects and meet deadlines. Requirements included at least three years of experience in postsecondary instructional design, a master's degree and experience working with computerized design and learning management programs.
  • A software company in Greenfield, IN, needed an instructional designer to create training materials for businesses that use the company's software programs. The instructional designer must be creative and innovative. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in instructional design, at least three years of experience in instructional design, excellent communication skills, strong interpersonal skills and management skills.
  • A college in Marion, IN, looked for an instructional designer to help design and develop both online and campus-based courses. The instructional designer would analyze courses for effectiveness and work collaboratively with a team to improve course designs. Applicants must have held a master's degree in instructional design, at least two years of experience in instructional design, experience using graphic design programs such as Adobe Photoshop, excellent communication skills and project management skills.

How to Make Your Skills Stand out in the Field

The educational media designer career field can be fairly competitive, especially in smaller towns and cities with a small number of schools. Educational media designers can stand out among other applicants by exceeding general education requirements and skills. Other factors that may appeal to potential employers include:

  • Proficiency in a second language, particularly Spanish
  • Previous teaching or administrative experience
  • Evidence of continued education and training in education
  • Proficiency in computerized design programs

Other Careers to Consider

Graphic Designer

If you enjoy graphic design and do not want to be limited to using your artistic talents only in the education field, you may want to complete a degree program in graphic design. Graphic designers need to have at least a bachelor's degree. They may work for print media, Web-content companies or advertising companies. Graphic designers earned a mean annual salary of about $49,000 in 2011, according to the BLS. However, those working in the federal executive branch category earned an annual mean salary of about $76,000.

Educational Administrator

Those who want to have an input concerning curriculum choices and provide leadership may want to consider a career in educational administration. Educational administrators may work as principals for elementary or secondary schools or they may work as curriculum directors for an entire public school district. The BLS reports that educational administrators earned a mean salary of about $90,000 in May 2011.

Teacher

If you enjoy the company of children, you may want to consider teaching as opposed to a career in educational media design. Teachers often design their own curriculum or alter a given curriculum to meet the needs of individual students. Teachers must complete a bachelor's degree program in education and, to work in public schools, earn state licensure. Elementary and teaching careers were expected to grow by 17% from 2010-2020. Elementary teachers earned a mean annual salary of about $55,000, and secondary teachers earned a mean annual salary of about $57,000 in May 2011.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • Master of Science in Instructional Design
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • M.Ed. in Early Childhood
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (NITL)
    Bachelor's
      • BS in Early Childhood
      • B.S. in Behavioral Health Science with an Emphasis in Infancy and Early Childhood Studies
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • PHD: Education: Instructional Design and Technology
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction: Instructional Design and Technology
      • PHD: Advanced Educational Studies: Instructional Design and Technology
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Elementary Education
      • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction/Middle Grades Education
    Certificate
      • CTG: Instructional Design and Technology
      • CTG: Curriculum and Instruction
      • CTG: Higher Education Administration
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Saint Leo University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • MS: Instructional Design
  • Campus and Online Programs
    4. Full Sail University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Instructional Design and Technology Masters - Online
  • Campus and Online Programs
    5. The Chicago School

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • AAS Early Childhood Education
    Certificate
      • Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma
  • Towson, MD

    Towson University

  • Boston, MA

    Boston University

  • Online Programs Available
    9. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma

Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • Master of Science in Instructional Design
  • BS in Early Childhood

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • PHD: Education: Instructional Design and Technology
  • EDD: Curriculum and Instruction: Instructional Design and Technology
  • CTG: Instructional Design and Technology
  • CTG: Curriculum and Instruction

What is your highest level of education?

Saint Leo University

  • MS: Instructional Design

What is your highest level of education completed?

Full Sail University

  • Instructional Design and Technology Masters - Online

What is your highest level of education?

The Chicago School

  • Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning

What is your highest level of education completed?

Bryant & Stratton College

  • AAS Early Childhood Education
  • Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?