How much does an instructional designer charge per hour?

Entry-level: $40-60/hour, Mid-level: $60-100/hour, Senior: $100-150/hour, Expert: $150-200+/hour.

How much does it cost to develop an eLearning course?

Simple courses: $5,000-$15,000, Interactive courses: $15,000-$30,000, Complex simulations: $30,000-$50,000+.

2024 Pricing Guide

Instructional Designer RatesHow Much Does an ID Cost?

Transparent pricing guide for freelance instructional designers and eLearning developers. Updated for 2024 with real market data.

Last updated: December 2025

TL;DR

Instructional designer rates range from $40-200+/hour depending on experience. Entry-level: $40-60/hr, Mid-level: $60-100/hr, Senior: $100-150/hr, Expert: $150-200+/hr. For project-based work, expect $5,000-50,000+ for a complete eLearning course depending on complexity and interactivity.

Rates by Experience Level

Experience Level	Years	Hourly Rate	Project Rate
Entry-Level	0-3 years	$40-60	$3,000-8,000
Mid-Level	3-7 years	$60-100	$8,000-20,000
Senior	7-10+ years	$100-150	$20,000-40,000
Expert/Specialized	10+ years + niche	$150-200+	$40,000+

Rates by Project Type

Simple eLearning Module

Basic interactivity, text, images, quizzes

$5,000-15,000

30-60 min

Interactive Course

Scenarios, branching, animations, assessments

$15,000-30,000

1-2 hours

Complex Simulation

Custom interactions, gamification, advanced branching

$30,000-50,000+

Variable

Curriculum Design

Learning paths, multiple courses, assessments

$25,000-75,000+

Multi-course

LMS Implementation

Setup, migration, custom configuration, training

$10,000-50,000+

Project-based

Rates by Hiring Platform

Platform	Typical Rate	Notes
LearnexusRecommended	$75-150/hr	Pre-vetted, 10+ years experience, L&D specialized
Upwork	$25-100/hr	All experience levels, self-vetting required
Fiverr	$20-80/hr	Gig-based, variable quality
Full-Time Hire	$60,000-120,000/yr	Salary + benefits, long-term commitment
Agency	$150-300/hr	Team approach, higher overhead costs

Pricing FAQs

Instructional designer hourly rates vary by experience: Entry-level (0-3 years): $40-60/hour, Mid-level (3-7 years): $60-100/hour, Senior (7-10+ years): $100-150/hour, Specialized/Expert: $150-200+/hour. Rates also depend on industry specialization and technical skills like Articulate Storyline or SCORM development.

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Related Resources

Hire Instructional Designers Learnexus vs Upwork L&D Glossary