Instructional Design & Technology Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Instructional Design & Technology degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Instructional Design & Technology in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Instructional Design & Technology students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Instructional Design & Technology has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Curriculum Design and E-Learning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Wilmington is approximately $47,500, growing to $74,100 by mid-career.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Instructional Design & Technology Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Instructional Design & Technology salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Instructional Design & Technology ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Instructional Design & Technology degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,250
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$482,736
Lifetime earnings premium ($551,000) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Instructional Design & Technology in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Instructional Design & Technology
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Instructional Design & Technology in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Instructional Design & Technology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Instructional Design & Technology Job Titles
Instructional Design & Technology in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Education Majors in Wilmington
Educational Psychology
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$48K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Special Education
$48K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Instructional Design & Technology Degree in Wilmington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Instructional Design & Technology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Wilmington.