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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Requisition ID # 172961
Job Category: Human Resources
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Business Unit: Energy Delivery
Work Type: Hybrid
Job Location: Oakland
Department Overview
Enterprise Health and Safety (EH&S) consists of PG&E’s Regional Safety, Occupational Health and Safety, Transportation and Contractor Safety, PG&E’s Safety Excellence Management System (PSEMS), Enterprise Corrective Action Program (eCAP), and PG&E Academy. The team collaborates with our enterprise partners to implement safety programs to support the regional safety model, workforce safety (including contractor safety), public safety and transportation safety. The team develops and maintains safety standards, assesses enterprise safety culture, and oversees PSEMS. Additionally, the EH&S team facilitates the enterprise corrective action program, an Enterprise Program that is trusted, valued, and effectively used to identify, evaluate, trend, and track resolution of known and perceived issues. Finally, the PG&E Academy ensures our coworkers have the knowledge and skills to safely and compliantly perform their work through strategically developed and delivered training programs.
We are seeking team members who can thrive autonomously in a fast-paced environment that is change. To be successful, you must be open to change, possess a passion for learning and innovation, be able to build strong internal and external relationships and have a strong propensity for action, results and continuous improvement.
Position Summary
PG&E Academy is looking for an Instructional Designer to join our PG&E Academy Curriculum Development Team in support of Gas Operations learning needs. This role works closely with the development team and clients to develop and maintain the learning content, tools, systems, and programs that support our employee’s ability to safely and efficiently perform their work and job tasks. This is accomplished via a wide range of methodologies, delivery mechanisms and formats to meet specific business needs. The Instructional Designer will work closely with subject matter experts as well as internal and external stakeholders to translate business and performance objectives into learning and performance support solutions and to ensure that employees are trained to competence.
The successful candidate should have a proven track record in design and development. The Instructional Designer must have excellent written and verbal communication skills. The candidate should have strong organizational skills and possess the ability to analyze data and consult with client groups.
This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The assigned work location will be within the PG&E Service Territory.
PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity. Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.
A reasonable salary range is:
Bay Area Minimum: $80,000
Bay Area Maximum: $120,000
Job Responsibilities
- Conduct needs analysis, design curriculum and develop training content and materials utilizing various training tools, methods, approaches and tactics within PG&E’s quality standards.
- Provide input regarding learning solution and estimate of work.
- Collaborate and consult with project partners and stakeholders to design and develop learning solutions that reinforce business goals and best practices.
- Facilitate content development sessions with subject matter experts and stakeholders, under the guidance of more experienced learning professional.
- Identify key metrics for measuring training effectiveness, aligning training results with business goals and metrics.
- Manage time and tasks and escalate challenges appropriately.
Qualifications
Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in Instructional Design, Liberal Arts, or related degree/field, or equivalent work experience. 3 years of Instructional Design, communications, teaching, training, change management, or graphic design work experience
Desired: Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products, i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint - as needed to perform at the job level. Knowledge of e-learning and video development/editing. Ability to travel locally up to 20%. PG&E Experience
See All 12 Instructional Designer Jobs in California
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Find Instructional Designer JobsInstructional Designer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Instructional Designer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Think Academy US2

- Amazon1

- Apple1

- Artech1

- 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.
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