Training and Development Specialists: Career Profile
Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.
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The Daily Work of Training and Development Specialists Do?
The core tasks performed by training and development specialists span:
- Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
- Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.
- Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.
- Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.
- Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives.
- Monitor, evaluate, or record training activities or program effectiveness.
- Design, plan, organize, or direct orientation and training programs for employees or customers.
- Develop alternative training methods if expected improvements are not seen.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful training and development specialists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Training and Development Specialists Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Applications Trainer
- Apprenticeship and Training Representative
- Auxiliary Personnel Inservice Coordinator
- Bilingual Trainer
- Certified EPIC Trainer (Certified Electronic Privacy Information Center Trainer)
- Computer Software Training Specialist
- Computer Technology Trainer
- Computer Training Specialist
How Many Training and Development Specialists Are There?
There are about 559,597 training and development specialists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +11.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Training and Development Specialists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $63,210 |
| Hourly median | $30.39 |
| 10th percentile | $44,637 |
| 25th percentile | $53,924 |
| 75th percentile | $72,496 |
| 90th percentile | $81,782 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $84,460 |
| Wyoming | $83,450 |
| Washington | $82,910 |
| Connecticut | $79,660 |
| Delaware | $79,320 |
| New Jersey | $76,660 |
| Virginia | $76,250 |
| Minnesota | $75,980 |
| Alaska | $75,010 |
| New York | $73,550 |
| Massachusetts | $73,480 |
| Maryland | $73,220 |
| California | $72,930 |
| Colorado | $72,790 |
| Rhode Island | $72,600 |
| New Hampshire | $71,740 |
| Oregon | $70,320 |
| Maine | $67,420 |
| Vermont | $67,180 |
| Wisconsin | $66,990 |
| Arizona | $66,000 |
| Alabama | $65,520 |
| Florida | $65,010 |
| Kansas | $64,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,640 |
| Nebraska | $64,520 |
| South Carolina | $64,020 |
| Ohio | $63,790 |
| Illinois | $63,550 |
| Michigan | $63,520 |
| Texas | $63,450 |
| Indiana | $63,440 |
| New Mexico | $63,090 |
| Georgia | $62,930 |
| Iowa | $62,440 |
| South Dakota | $62,170 |
| North Dakota | $61,880 |
| Hawaii | $61,410 |
| Oklahoma | $61,400 |
| West Virginia | $61,310 |
| Nevada | $60,970 |
| North Carolina | $60,790 |
| Utah | $60,510 |
| Montana | $59,900 |
| Kentucky | $58,650 |
| Missouri | $58,120 |
| Tennessee | $57,930 |
| Idaho | $57,740 |
| Louisiana | $57,020 |
| Mississippi | $52,160 |
| Arkansas | $48,330 |
| Virgin Islands | $44,670 |
| Guam | $43,610 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,360 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for training and development specialists vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $73,622 | 4.7% | 1.01 |
| Far Western US | $73,296 | 14.7% | 0.88 |
| Middle Atlantic | $72,407 | 13.7% | 0.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $67,205 | 5.0% | 1.28 |
| Plains States | $66,178 | 6.5% | 0.98 |
| Great Lakes | $64,191 | 14.0% | 1.00 |
| Southwest | $63,740 | 14.0% | 1.11 |
| Southeast | $63,511 | 27.2% | 1.16 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper, WY | WY | $99,350 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $97,530 | 3,050 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $92,710 | 6,060 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $92,390 | 7,080 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $90,400 | 360 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | WV | $84,910 | 50 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $84,830 | 570 |
| Cheyenne, WY | WY | $83,450 | 230 |
Top Industries Employing Training and Development Specialists
The bulk of training and development specialists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 53,050 | $79,060 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 51,120 | $65,200 |
| Educational Services | 44,210 | $73,920 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 35,910 | $34,490 |
| Finance and Insurance | 33,870 | $77,230 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 31,990 | $60,200 |
| Manufacturing | 31,800 | $64,530 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 25,370 | $58,710 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Video creation and editing software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Cisco Webex (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Django (hot technology)
- Medical software: Epic Systems (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of training and development specialists reflects the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Education and Training
Entry-level training and development specialists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Human Resources Managers (Supplemental)
- Training and Development Managers (Primary-Short)
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators (Primary-Long)
- Human Resources Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Project Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring training and development specialists often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
3 programs across 1 majors
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 13-1151.00 (Training and Development Specialists).
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