Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
5 years or more
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Instructional coordinators plan and support educational programs, drawing on a blend of communication, leadership, and analytical skills. Nationally, this occupation employs about 233,000 people, indicating a sizable professional community. The national median annual salary of $74,720 reflects solid earning potential, with some states and metro areas offering higher typical pay. Projected employment growth of 1.3% and about 22,000 annual openings suggest an ongoing flow of opportunities, including both new positions and turnover. The role typically requires a master’s degree, aligning it with advanced professional career paths. Successful instructional coordinators tend to combine speaking and listening skills with project management, creativity and innovation, and strong writing and reading abilities. Interpersonal strengths, adaptability, and comfort with computers and information technology further support day-to-day effectiveness. For students, career changers, and experienced educators, this field offers a structured path that values critical and analytical thinking alongside leadership and collaboration.
Instructional coordinators earn a national median annual salary of $74,720, with notable variation by location. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, Washington and California stand out with median salaries of $97,250 and $97,010, respectively, followed closely by Massachusetts at $95,320. Colorado and New York offer median salaries of $82,160 and $80,560. At the metro level, several areas exceed even these state medians. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro reports a median of $105,220, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro is close behind at $103,400. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH has a median salary of $98,370, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands at $99,030. These figures show that earnings can be substantially higher than the national median in certain states and large metro areas, giving professionals room to target locations that align with their salary goals.
Instructional coordinators have national employment of about 233,000, reflecting a well-established field. Projected employment growth is 1.3%, indicating modest expansion over time. In addition to growth, the occupation is expected to generate about 22,000 annual openings. These openings can include both new positions created and vacancies from people changing jobs or leaving the workforce. Together, the projected growth and annual openings suggest a consistent number of opportunities for new entrants and experienced professionals. The growth rate of 1.3% appears across the highlighted states and metro areas as well, showing a similar pattern in those regions. For students and career changers planning ahead, these data points indicate that while the field is not rapidly expanding, it maintains ongoing demand and a steady flow of positions to compete for, especially when combined with the right education and skills.
Location can significantly shape the opportunity profile for instructional coordinators. Among states, California leads the CareerGPS opportunity score list at 67.38, with a median salary of $97,010 and employment of 20,950. Massachusetts and New York follow closely with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, and median salaries of $95,320 and $80,560. Washington and Colorado also appear among the top states, with opportunity scores of 56.29 and 56.97 and median salaries of $97,250 and $82,160. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area has the highest opportunity score at 77.42, while the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro is close behind at 77.27, both combining strong salaries and sizeable employment. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH offer median salaries near or above $98,000. These differences give job seekers options to target regions with higher opportunity scores, larger employment bases, or higher median pay.
Instructional coordinators typically need a master’s degree, placing this career in the category of advanced professional roles that require significant graduate-level preparation. This educational background supports the broad mix of skills associated with the occupation. Speaking and listening, writing and reading, and interpersonal abilities are central, helping professionals communicate effectively in educational settings. Leadership and project management skills support work that involves guiding initiatives and coordinating efforts across people and tasks. Creativity and innovation, along with adaptability, help instructional coordinators respond to changing needs. Mathematics and computers and information technology add a quantitative and technical dimension, while critical and analytical thinking underpins evaluation and decision-making. For students planning their path, graduate programs that strengthen these skill areas can align well with the demands of the role. Career changers can also focus on building these competencies through advanced education and targeted experience to become competitive candidates.
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