Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Communicating clearly through speech while listening carefully to understand others.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become an Instructional Coordinator Instructional coordinators need to be able to train teachers on the newest teaching techniques and tools. Instructional coordinators typically need a master’s degree and related work experience, such as in teaching or school administration, to enter the occupation. Coordinators in public schools may be required to have a state-issued license.
Education
Instructional coordinators in public schools are required to have a master’s degree in education or curriculum and instruction. Some instructional coordinators need a degree in a specialized field, such as math or history. Master’s degree programs in curriculum and instruction teach about curriculum design, instructional theory, and collecting and analyzing data. To enter these programs, candidates usually need a bachelor’s degree in education.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Instructional coordinators in public schools may be required to have a license, such as a teaching license or an education administrator license. For information about teaching licenses, see the profiles on kindergarten and elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, and high school teachers. For information about education administrator licenses, see the profile on elementary, middle, and high school principals. Check with your state’s Board of Education for specific license requirements. Work Experience in a Related Occupation Most instructional coordinators need several years of related work experience as a teacher or an instructional leader. For some positions, experience teaching a specific subject or grade level is required. Advancement With enough experience and more education, instructional coordinators may become superintendents.
Your Next Step
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of instructional coordinators is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035. Despite limited employment growth, about 23,100 openings for instructional coordinators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment States and school districts will continue to be held accountable for test scores and graduation rates, putting more of an emphasis on student achievement data. As a result, schools may increasingly turn to instructional coordinators to help develop better curriculums and improve teachers’ effectiveness. However, state and local government budget constraints may limit demand for these workers. Instructional Coordinators Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Total, all occupations 3% Instructional coordinators 2% Other educational instruction and library occupations 0% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Instructional Coordinators Do
Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop educational material, implement it with teachers and principals, and assess its effectiveness.
Duties
Instructional coordinators typically do the following:
- Develop and implement the curriculums
- Plan, organize, and conduct teacher training, conferences, or workshops
- Analyze students' test data
- Assess and discuss the curriculum standards with school staff
- Review and suggest textbooks and other educational materials
- Recommend teaching techniques and the use of different or new technologies
- Develop procedures for teachers to implement a curriculum
- Train teachers and other instructional staff in new content or programs
- Mentor or coach teachers to improve their skills
Instructional coordinators, also known as curriculum specialists, evaluate the effectiveness of curriculums and teaching techniques established by school boards, states, or federal regulations. They observe teachers in the classroom, review student test data, and discuss the curriculum with the school staff. Based on their research, they may recommend changes in curriculums to the school board.
Instructional coordinators may conduct training for teachers related to teaching or technology. For example, instructional coordinators explain new learning standards to teachers and demonstrate effective teaching methods to achieve them.
Instructional coordinators may specialize in particular grade levels or specific subjects. Those in elementary and secondary schools may focus on programs such as special education or English as a second language.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Instructional coordinators held about 248,700 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of instructional coordinators were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 35% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 11 |
| Educational support services; private | 8 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; private | 8 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 6 |
Most instructional coordinators work in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, professional schools, or educational support services or for state and local governments. They typically work year round.
Work Schedules
Instructional coordinators generally work full time. They typically work year round and do not have summer breaks. Coordinators may meet with teachers and other administrators outside of classroom hours.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Instructional coordinators evaluate student test data and teaching strategies. Based on their analysis, they recommend improvements in curriculums and teaching. Communication skills. Instructional coordinators need to clearly explain changes in the curriculum and teaching standards to school staff. Decision-making skills. Instructional coordinators must be decisive when recommending changes to curriculums, teaching methods, and textbooks. Interpersonal skills. Instructional coordinators need to be able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with teachers, principals, and other administrators. Leadership skills. Instructional coordinators serve as mentors to teachers. They train teachers in developing useful and effective teaching techniques.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about instructional coordinators by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.