Curriculum Developer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$75,000
national median salary
$59,000 to $95,000. Last updated August 2026.
Orbyt prices 2 titles at this same figure: Curriculum Developer and Instructional Designer. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $77,440 for Instructional Coordinators (SOC 25-9031) across the United States, based on 227,760 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$47,980
25th percentile
$60,780
Median
$77,440
75th percentile
$98,820
90th percentile
$121,670
Workers surveyed
227,760
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$74,720
May 2025 release
$77,440
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Instructional Coordinators (SOC 25-9031) rather than Curriculum Developerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 25-9031Highest Paying
$101,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$78,000
Boston, MA
Lowest Paying
$58,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 25-9031. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Curriculum Developer salary in the United States at $75,000 in 2026, within a range of $59,000 to $95,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 2 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $101,000, while Boston offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Subject matter expertise, experience with standards alignment, and proficiency in digital curriculum development tools drive salary differences.
Curriculum Developer salary by city.
Skills that increase Curriculum Developer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Curriculum Developers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $10,500 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$10,500 per year
≈ +$9,750 per year
≈ +$9,000 per year
≈ +$8,250 per year
≈ +$8,250 per year
≈ +$7,500 per year
≈ +$7,500 per year
≈ +$6,750 per year
What you should know.
Subject matter expertise, experience with standards alignment, and proficiency in digital curriculum development tools drive salary differences. Developers working at edtech companies or large publishers earn 15 to 25% more than those at school districts or nonprofits.
Junior Curriculum Developers start at $56,000 to $64,000. Mid-level developers with published curricula earn $70,000 to $85,000. Senior Curriculum Developers and Content Directors command $88,000 to $110,000, while VPs of Content at edtech companies exceed $130,000.
Edtech companies offer annual bonuses of 5 to 15% and stock options at growth-stage firms. District-based roles include pension benefits and summer schedules. Freelance curriculum developers charge $60 to $120 per hour for specialized content creation.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Curriculum Developers typically earn $68,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Curriculum Developer pay.
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