Instructional Designer Jobs in California

Instructional Designer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, higher education, healthcare, and state government agencies, with openings at every level from entry-level content developers through senior learning experience leads. The largest hiring markets are Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Salesforce, and the University of California system maintain ongoing instructional design needs. The most in-demand specialties are eLearning development, learning management system administration, and corporate onboarding program design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles12+
Top employerThink Academy US
Top citySan Jose, CA
Cities hiring11
Work type50% Hybrid
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 12+ Instructional Designer jobs

Pacific Gas and Electric
Instructional Designer
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Pacific Gas and Electric
Added 5d ago
Instructional Designer
Pacific Gas and Electric
Oakland, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Instructional Design
Corporate Training
Learning & Development
$80k - $120k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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UC Davis
Instructional Designer 3
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UC Davis
Added 5d ago
Instructional Designer 3
UC Davis
Davis, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Instructional Design
Corporate Training
Learning & Development
$70k - $124k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Apple
Instructional Designer
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Apple
Added 1w ago
Instructional Designer
Apple
Cupertino, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Content & Communications
Instructional Design
Corporate Training
$142k - $259k/yr
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Pepperdine University
Instructional Designer
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Pepperdine University
Added 1w ago
Instructional Designer
Pepperdine University
Los Angeles, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Instructional Design
$70k - $75k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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First American
Instructional Designer
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First American
Added 1w ago
Instructional Designer
First American
Santa Rosa, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Instructional Design
Corporate Training
Learning & Development
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 12 Instructional Designer Jobs in California

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Instructional Designer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Jose
2 jobs
Cupertino
1 jobs
Davis
1 jobs
Hawthorne
1 jobs
Long Beach
1 jobs
Los Angeles
1 jobs
Oakland
1 jobs
Sacramento
1 jobs
Santa Cruz
1 jobs

Instructional Designer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Think Academy US
    Think Academy US2
  • Amazon
    Amazon1
  • Apple
    Apple1
  • Artech
    Artech1
  • First American
    First American1

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education5
  • Construction & Real Estate1
  • Consulting & Professional Services1
  • Electronics & Hardware1
  • Energy1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in instructional designer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in instructional design, education technology, or a related field
  • Proficiency with eLearning authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate
  • Experience administering or building courses within a learning management system
  • Demonstrated ability to apply adult learning theory and instructional design models
  • Portfolio of completed eLearning modules, job aids, or blended learning programs
  • Strong collaboration skills for partnering with subject matter experts across departments

Instructional Designer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a instructional designer in California?

California has no state-issued license for instructional designers, so entry depends on education and demonstrated skills. Most California employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in instructional design, educational technology, or a related field, and many prefer candidates with a master's. A portfolio showing completed eLearning courses, facilitator guides, or blended learning programs carries significant weight in the California market alongside recognized credentials such as the ATD Certified Professional in Talent Development.

How much do instructional designers make in California?

Instructional designers in California earn a median of about $97,010 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $50,740 for the lowest 10% to over $152,260 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire instructional designers in California?

Employers hiring instructional designers in California right now include Think Academy US, Amazon, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of technology firms, large healthcare systems, and public universities means demand is distributed across the private sector and government institutions alike.

Which California cities have the most instructional designer jobs?

The cities with the most instructional designer openings in California are San Jose, Cupertino, and Davis. Los Angeles and San Francisco account for the largest share, driven by their dense clusters of technology companies, entertainment studios, and major healthcare networks, while San Diego's strong biotech and defense sectors and the Sacramento area's state government agencies and higher education institutions generate steady regional demand.

Are there remote instructional designer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. Instructional design is largely screen-based work involving course authoring, virtual collaboration with subject matter experts, and LMS administration, all of which translate well to remote settings. About 58% of instructional designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how widely distributed California employers have become since building out distributed learning teams. Roles tied to in-person facilitation or on-site compliance training are the most likely to require a physical presence.

How can I get hired as a instructional designer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is building a portfolio through volunteer, freelance, or academic projects and then targeting associate or junior instructional designer roles at California's large public university systems, community college districts, or state agencies, which hire at entry level more consistently than most private employers. Organizations such as the California Community Colleges system and UC campuses run structured onboarding for newer designers. Moving laterally from adjacent roles such as training coordinator, curriculum developer, or corporate trainer is also common. Completing an ATD or eLearning Guild credential and publishing sample modules strengthens applications significantly.

Where can I find and apply to instructional designer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to instructional designer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across technology, healthcare, education, and government sectors. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.

See All 12 Instructional Designer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Instructional Designer Jobs