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Education

Instructional Coach

Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology in specialized fields that provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors.

Annual openings

419

Median wage

$82,160

Typical education

A Master’s degree is usually required.

Growth 2026–2032

+9%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

A Master’s degree is usually required.

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Credential detail

Requirements differ from school district to school district, but specialized endorsements are often valued, such as Gifted Education Specialist, Instructional Technology Specialist, or Reading Specialist. For information on CTE roles, please see the Specialty Areas section.

Experience detail

At least 3-5 years of experience as a Licensed Teacher is expected.

Employer competency information

  • ● Lifelong Learning - Keeping up-to-date with instructional techniques, such as current development science, the ways in which learning takes place, and the emotion development of students ● Communication - Be perceptive and responsive listeners, able to communicate with Teachers/students in a variety of ways; help Teachers/students to articulate their thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively ● Instruction - Know and demonstrate knowledge of the content being taught, making the instruction and content relevant to Teachers/students while fostering a positive learning environment and adjusting instructional approaches as needed ● Strategic Planning & Organizing - Able to develop short-term and long-term lesson plans, monitoring and modifying those plans as needed to enhance learning in real-time ● Problem Solving & Decision Making - Able to vary instructional methods for the benefit of Teachers/students across a wide range of learning abilities and styles

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Observe work of teaching staff to evaluate performance and to recommend changes that could strengthen teaching skills.
  2. Plan and conduct teacher training programs and conferences dealing with new classroom procedures, instructional materials and equipment, and teaching aids.
  3. Conduct or participate in workshops, committees, and conferences designed to promote the intellectual, social, and physical welfare of students.
  4. Advise and teach students.
  5. Address public audiences to explain program objectives and to elicit support.
  6. Research, evaluate, and prepare recommendations on curricula, instructional methods, and materials for school systems.
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