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Canvas Course Designer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Instructional Designer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$67K - $90K/yr

... and course development in Canvas. Perform QA duties to ensure that redesigned courses are ... an instructional designer in an academic setting Experience building courses in Canvas ...

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Canvas Course Designer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$17

$29

$55

How much do canvas course designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for canvas course designer in Chicago, IL is $29.29, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.06 and $31.20 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Canvas course designer?

Canvas Course Designers are professionals responsible for creating, organizing, and managing online courses within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). They work with instructors and subject matter experts to design course layouts, develop engaging learning activities, integrate multimedia, and ensure accessibility standards are met. Their goal is to facilitate effective and user-friendly online learning experiences for students by leveraging the features and tools available in Canvas.

How does a Canvas course designer typically collaborate with instructors and subject matter experts during the course development process?

Canvas Course Designers work closely with instructors and subject matter experts to ensure that online courses are engaging, accessible, and aligned with learning objectives. This collaboration often involves regular meetings to discuss course goals, reviewing and organizing content, and providing guidance on best practices for online pedagogy. Designers also assist in integrating multimedia elements and interactive assessments, while ensuring compliance with accessibility standards. Open communication and a collaborative approach are key to creating a cohesive and effective learning experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Canvas course designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Canvas Course Designer, you need expertise in instructional design, familiarity with learning theories, and experience in online course development, often supported by a degree in education or instructional technology. Proficiency with the Canvas LMS, basic HTML/CSS, and multimedia editing tools is typically required. Strong collaboration, creativity, and attention to detail are vital soft skills for designing engaging and accessible learning experiences. These skills and qualities are crucial for creating effective, user-friendly courses that support diverse learner needs and institutional goals.

What is the difference between Canvas Course Designer vs Canvas Instructional Designer?

AspectCanvas Course DesignerCanvas Instructional Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in education, instructional design, or related fieldOften requires advanced degrees or certifications in instructional design or education technology
Work EnvironmentPrimarily focused on designing and developing online courses within LMS platforms like CanvasBroader role including curriculum development, instructional strategies, and learner assessment
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, e-learning companies, corporate trainingUniversities, colleges, e-learning organizations, corporate training departments

While both roles involve designing online learning experiences within Canvas, the Canvas Course Designer primarily focuses on creating and structuring courses, whereas the Canvas Instructional Designer often has a broader scope, including curriculum planning and instructional strategies. The Instructional Designer typically requires more advanced credentials and may handle a wider range of educational development tasks.

Infographic showing various Canvas Course Designer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,925 per year, or $29.3 per hour.

Instructional Designer

VIVA USA INC

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

$67K - $90K/yr

Contractor

This job post hasย expired today.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Responsibilities:
The Instructional Designer will create a positive experience for faculty/staff as they guide them through the process of redesigning a residential course for online and hybrid delivery by performing the following responsibilities:
Work independently to redesign established residential courses to effective, engaging, rigorous online and hybrid courses using the client technology stack.
Support faculty's redesign work by providing advice based on pedagogical effectiveness and technological considerations.
Make recommendations about which courses would most benefit from a course redesign and additional support or intervention.
Interact with faculty via our ticketing system (Service Now).
Create online written and video documentation and/or training materials to support course redesign and course development in Canvas.
Perform QA duties to ensure that redesigned courses are pedagogically sound and employ technologies within the client ecosystem.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree instructional design or related field, or three years of experience as an instructional designer in an academic setting
Experience building courses in Canvas
Understanding of academic course design principles and methodologies, including flipped classroom
Lead one-on-one and small group consultations in Zoom on effective practices of online and hybrid learning
Facility with learning new productivity tools and workflows and the ability to work in a number of systems (Office 365, Service Now, Panopto, Zoom, Canvas, etc.)
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to redesign courses
Experience with common e-learning creation tools and integration techniques, such as Panopto, Zoom, and Hypothesis
Experience with higher ed content
Experience working directly with university-level faculty
Understanding of online course delivery using video conferencing equipment and software (e.g. Zoom) and best practices
Ability to use graphics libraries and software such as Adobe Illustrator, inDesign, Acrobat, Camtasia to create visually appealing content
Familiarity with accessibility principles and best practices as it pertains to teaching and learning content
Ability to troubleshoot
Ability to analyze root causes of issues
Ability to train faculty and students
Ability to generate creative solutions to problems
Ability to track an issue from the time it is reported to resolution
Ability to communicate with faculty, students, and the client Academic Technology Solutions team members
VIVA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants have an equal opportunity for placement, and all employees have an equal opportunity to develop on the job. This means that VIVA will not discriminate against any employee or qualified applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status