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 354,800 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of training and development specialists were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 12 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11 |
| Finance and insurance | 9 |
| Administrative and support services | 8 |
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 2021
The median annual wage for training and development specialists was $61,570 in May 2021. 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 $31,340, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,240.
In May 2021, 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 | $77,280 |
| Finance and insurance | 63,460 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 62,600 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 60,110 |
| Administrative and support services | 49,210 |
Most training and development specialists work full time during regular business hours.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 36,500 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 continuing education and skill development courses throughout their careers, creating demand for workers who lead training activities.
Employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow in many industries as companies develop and introduce new media and technology into their training programs. Innovations in training methods and learning technology should continue throughout the next decade.
In addition, some organizations meet their employees’ needs by outsourcing instruction to firms that specialize in training and development.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
|||||||
Training and development specialists |
13-1151 | 354,800 | 383,700 | 8 | 28,900 | Get data | |
For more information about training and development specialists, visit
Association for Talent Development (ATD)
International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)