Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge.
Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge.
Training and development specialists typically do the following:
Training and development specialists help create, plan, and run training programs for businesses and organizations. To do this, they must first assess the needs of an organization. They then develop custom training programs that may take place online, in classrooms, or in training facilities.
Training and development specialists organize or run training sessions using lectures, team exercises and other formats. Training also may be in the form of a video, a self-guided instructional manual, or an online application. Training may be collaborative, allowing employees to connect informally with colleagues, experts, and mentors.
Training and development specialists held about 420,100 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of training and development specialists were as follows:
| Healthcare and social assistance | 11% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11 |
| Finance and insurance | 9 |
| Administrative and support services | 7 |
Training and development specialists spend much of their time working with people, giving presentations, and leading training activities. They also may need to travel to training sites.
Most training and development specialists work full time during regular business hours.
Training and development specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree and related work experience. However, candidates who do not have a bachelor’s degree sometimes qualify for jobs if they have relevant experience.
Training and development specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree, often in a business field such as organizational development or human resources. Other fields of degree include education, social science, psychology, and communications.
Candidates who do not have a bachelor’s degree sometimes qualify for jobs if they have experience developing and delivering training. The experience may need to be extensive and specific to the employer’s industry.
Related work experience is important for most training and development specialists. Positions may require work experience in areas such as staff development or instructional design or in related occupations, such as human resources specialists or teachers.
Employers also may prefer to hire candidates who have work experience in a relevant industry or with virtual learning, mobile training, and technology-based tools. However, employers may hire candidates who have a master’s degree instead of work experience.
Although not usually required, certification shows professional expertise and credibility. However, some employers prefer to hire certified candidates, and some positions require certification. The Association for Talent Development (ATD) and International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) are among the organizations that offer certification programs in training and development.
Training and development specialists may advance to training and development manager or human resources manager positions. Workers typically need several years of experience to advance.
Analytical skills. Training and development specialists must evaluate training programs, methods, and materials and choose those that best fit each situation.
Collaboration skills. Specialists need strong interpersonal skills because delivering training programs requires coordinating with instructors, subject-matter experts, and trainees. Specialists accomplish much of their work through teams.
Communication skills. Training and development specialists must convey information clearly and facilitate learning to diverse audiences.
Creativity. Specialists should be resourceful when developing training materials. They may need to think of and implement new approaches when considering training methods.
Instructional skills. Training and development specialists deliver employee training programs. They must have strong training skills to meet the learning needs of a particular group.
Median annual wages, May 2023
The median annual wage for training and development specialists was $64,340 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,050, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $116,140.
In May 2023, the median annual wages for training and development specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $79,150 |
| Finance and insurance | 74,260 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 72,520 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 61,920 |
| Administrative and support services | 53,470 |
Most training and development specialists work full time during regular business hours.
Percent change in employment, projected 2023-33
Employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow 12 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 42,200 openings for training and development specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employees in many occupations are required to take training and development courses throughout their careers, creating demand for the specialists who lead these activities.
As technology continues to advance, workers may need to learn new skillsets to use these technologies in their jobs. Continuous training and upskilling will increase the demand for training and development specialists as the skills relevant to many occupations evolve.
In addition, more of these specialists are expected to be needed to develop employee training related to complying with internal policies and regulatory requirements.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2023 | Projected Employment, 2033 | Change, 2023-33 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program | |||||||
Training and development specialists | 13-1151 | 420,100 | 468,600 | 12 | 48,500 | Get data | |
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of training and development specialists.
| Occupation | Job Duties | ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION  | 2023 MEDIAN PAY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Career and Technical Education Teachers | Career and technical education teachers instruct students in various technical and vocational subjects, such as auto repair, healthcare, and culinary arts. | Bachelor's degree | $63,580 |
 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | Compensation and benefits managers plan, develop, and oversee programs to pay employees. | Bachelor's degree | $136,380 |
 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists oversee wage and nonwage programs that an organization provides to its employees in return for their work. They also evaluate position descriptions to determine details such as classification and salary. | Bachelor's degree | $74,530 |
 | Human Resources Managers | Human resources managers plan, coordinate, and direct the administrative functions of an organization. | Bachelor's degree | $136,350 |
 | Human Resources Specialists | Human resources specialists recruit, screen, and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs. They also may handle compensation and benefits, training, and employee relations. | Bachelor's degree | $67,650 |
 | Instructional Coordinators | Instructional coordinators oversee school curriculums and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, implement it, and assess its effectiveness. | Master's degree | $74,620 |
 | Labor Relations Specialists | Labor relations specialists resolve employee-management disputes and negotiate labor contracts. | Bachelor's degree | $89,980 |
 | Project Management Specialists | Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project. | Bachelor's degree | $98,580 |
 | School and Career Counselors and Advisors | School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment. | Master's degree | $61,710 |
 | Training and Development Managers | Training and development managers plan, coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff. | Bachelor's degree | $125,040 |
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