With the increasing popularity of online education for tutoring, teaching, and aptitude test preparation during COVID, online curriculum development jobs are in high demand. So if you’re interested in entering the education industry on your own terms with flexible hours, becoming a work from home curriculum developer is a great opportunity.
Curriculum developers work with educators to develop engaging and modern content for today’s students in an online forum. By developing this curriculum, developers ensure that the school or educational company adheres to internal guidelines, as well as requirements laid out at the state and federal levels. Have you always wanted to dive into the educational sector and make an impact in the lives of students? Then developing curriculums is a rewarding job path. Here’s what you should know to gain access to the fast-growing job industry.
Everything You Need to Know About Online Curriculum Development Jobs
Following the mass quarantines due to COVID, many school districts and universities turned to online learning. However, it wasn’t without some hiccups. Many teachers, educators, and tutors had little knowledge of the proper technology. The same went for students. As a result, the need for online curriculum developers skyrocketed as educators aimed to bridge the gap between onsite learning and online learning.
Furthermore, many experts believe that COVID forever changed the world of education in a positive way. Early research shows that retention levels increased while taking up less time, making a full or permanent shift to online education an enticing idea. With a projected 10% job growth through the year 2030, online curriculum writing and development is an exciting career with plenty of room for growth. Here’s what you need to know if you want to join the ranks of remote curriculum developers.
How to Become an Online Curriculum Developer
The educational requirements needed to become an online curriculum developer varies from industry to industry. While some jobs may require a bachelor’s degree, other open positions necessitate a master’s degree in education or a relevant field to the class you’re writing about.
In addition, some states require online curriculum developers to hold a teaching certificate from the state. However, this only requires you to pass a licensing exam; some states even allow you several years to obtain a certificate once you enter the educational industry. In some cases, employers will also want a curriculum developer to have a certain area of expertise based upon what they’re creating, such as math, chemistry, physics, or other common core classes.
On top of certification and educational requirements, some employers also want curriculum developers to have familiarity with social media. The skill is relevant if the company sells their services online or develops a marketing campaign. Finally, these jobs may also require knowledge of various software programs, including:
- Microsoft Office
- HTML
- Photoshop
- JavaScript
- Corel Visual Studio Pro
- Adobe ActionScript
- Google Docs
- Zoom
- ASP
- Captivate
Skills Needed for Remote Curriculum Development Jobs
Aside from education and technological knowledge, remote curriculum developers will excel at the job at an exponential level if they have the right soft skills. Some of the most highly coveted soft skills among employer job descriptions include:
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Superb writing skills
- Attention to detail
- Patience
- Organizational skills
- Ability to work independently
- Self-starter
- Analytical skills
- Time management skills
- Creative thinking
- Problem-solving
Equipment Needed
Experienced educators should already have the necessary equipment to become work from home curriculum writers. You will utilize educational resources, materials, books, manuals, and teaching standards you acquired over your years of industry experience. In addition, you will become close personal friends with your home office computer. Ensure that your computer is in good working order with an up-to-date operating system and anti-virus software.
Additional Certifications
Although a teaching certificate is almost always required, optional certifications can boost your chances of employment. While they aren’t always required, these certifications give your resume and overall application profile more credibility and clout. You may want to get some experience with an entry-level position before gaining these certifications, but these are always great to add to your credentials.
- Certified Instructional Technologist
- Microsoft Certified Educator
- A graduate certificate in curriculum development and leadership through various universities
- Project-Based Learning Curriculum Developer Certification
Salary Information for Online Curriculum Development Jobs
As a result of the high demand for online curriculum development jobs and the relatively low supply of qualified workers, salaries have increased drastically for workers over the past few years. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t have a specific category for online curriculum developers, these statistics show the average salary for many similar job types.
- Instructional Coordinators: $66,970 per year or $32.20 per hour; job growth rate of 10%
- Training and Development Specialists: $62,700 per year or $30.14 per hour; job growth rate of 11%
- Training and Development Managers: $115,640 per year or $55.60 per hour; job growth rate of 11%
The amount you earn may mimic these salaries. Although entry-level positions or those that don’t require a teaching certificate or master’s degree may pay less. For example, website Payscale shows an average annual salary of $65,485 per year for curriculum developers, or $29.14 per hour.
Common Types of Online Curriculum Development Jobs
Online curriculum development jobs come with various names and titles. So knowing all of the similar titles may help you narrow your scope when you’re searching for applying for jobs. In addition, certain types of jobs also give you some insight into various work arrangements. Full-time, part-time, flexible, and contract jobs are all available. With that said, some of the most common types of online curriculum development jobs include:
- Remote Learning and Developer Curriculum Director
- Remote Senior Technical Curriculum Developer
- Telecommute Educational Curriculum Manager
- Remote Education Nonprofit Curriculum Manager
- Remote Data Science and Machine Learning Curriculum Developer and Instructor
Companies Hiring for Online Curriculum Development Jobs
If you have all of the requirements listed above, you’re on the fast track to getting an online curriculum development job. Whether you want to work for a large corporation or a small- or medium-sized business, check out a few of these companies looking to hire you now.
Code2College
Code2College is an online education company that specializes in attempting to increase the number of minorities and low-income students in STEM college programs around the country. Using a multi-year college prep course with the expertise of qualified employees and volunteers, the company aims to spread diversity, equity, and inclusion in workplaces around the United States.
Coding Dojo
Founded in 2018, Coding Dojo is a professional training and coaching company. Featured on Forbes, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal, the company helps individuals learn how to code by offering in-person and online boot camps. With thousands of graduates in just a few years, former students now work at companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Coding Dojo has been the recipient of nearly two dozen awards, including Newsweek’s Top Coding Schools and a #89 ranking on GeekWire’s top 200 startups of 2020.
Millennial Tech
Millennial Tech is an IT advisory company that provides its customers with data analytics, technical support, and online training. Started in 2019, the company has become a disruptor in the industry, specifically catering to the Millennial demographic in both its staff, its customers, and the target markets of their clients. With more companies needing technical instruction for their staffs, Millennial Tech puts together training programs that bring all types of non-tech jobs up to speed on software and other programs.
Stride, Inc.
Headquartered in Herndon, Va., Stride, Inc. (formerly K12) is a publicly traded online education company that provides general education classes and career learning programs to both children and adults. With revenues topping $1 billion in 2020, Stride continues to be the largest education management organization in the country. The company has been praised as one of the top places to work in the industry due to a variety of factors. And with a commitment to professional development, a results-oriented work culture, and freedom to explore multiple paths within the company, Stride provides tons of opportunities for internal advancement.
Questions People Also Ask About Online Curriculum Development Jobs
While the information above should provide you with the insight you need to get an online curriculum development job, you may still have some additional questions and concerns. Here are some questions that other aspiring online curriculum developers often ask about the position.
What Are the Typical Hours of a Curriculum Developer?
Work schedules of curriculum writers will vary based on the terms of their employment. These telecommute professionals have a wide range of work flexibility. This can involve working as full-time or part-time regular employees or as independent contractors or freelancers. Unlike teachers, full-time curriculum writers shouldn’t expect to receive summers off from work. Curriculum writers who work as independent contractors may be hired temporarily to revise the curriculum for the current school year, or they may be recruited to spend several months creating course materials for the following school year.
What Master’s Degree Should I Pursue to Further My Career as a Remote Curriculum Developer?
With a master’s degree, online curriculum development jobs often pay more money. However, you need to choose the right program. Both online and onsite universities offer a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction. You can also choose to pursue a master’s degree in education with no concentration, as well as a master’s degree that pertains to the industry you want to work in.
Find Your Next Online Curriculum Development Job With Help From Virtual Vocations
Regardless of your specific area of expertise or amount of experience in the industry, finding an online curriculum development job is easier than you may think with help from Virtual Vocations. With free and paid memberships available, Virtual Vocations allows you to improve your resume, hunt for jobs, and bolster your chances for online employment.
With the right mix of ambition, resources, and the Virtual Vocations remote job board, you can find your way into one of the education industry’s most popular new jobs. Get started today!
What area of education do you specialize in? What appeals to you about online curriculum development jobs? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!
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