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Technology
Microsoft, Google, Cisco
Training and Development Managers
Training and development managers figure out what employees need to learn, then build or improve the classes, workshops, and onboarding programs that teach it. The work is a mix of teaching, planning, and persuading managers to give people time to learn, which means success depends as much on buy-in and measurement as on the content itself. The tradeoff is that the job can pay well and influence the whole organization, but training budgets and priorities can shift quickly when business pressure rises.
Also known as Learning and Development ManagerTraining ManagerL&D ManagerCorporate Training ManagerTalent Development Manager
Median Salary
$127,090
Mean $140,590
U.S. Workforce
~45K
3.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+5.8%
46.4K to 49.2K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ 5 years or more experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Training and Development Managers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~45K workers, with a median annual pay of $127,090 and roughly 3.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 46.4 K in 2024 to 49.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect 5 years or more of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Training Coordinator and can progress toward Director of Learning and Development. High-value skills usually include Learning Strategies & Adult Learning Theory, Training Needs Analysis & Program Evaluation, and Articulate 360, Adobe Captivate & LMS Administration, paired with soft skills such as Active listening, Clear speaking and presentation, and Coaching and mentoring.
Core Responsibilities
- Talk with managers and review business changes to spot what employees need to learn next.
- Build or update orientation, workshop, and on-the-job training for new hires and current staff.
- Create training handouts, slide decks, videos, and other materials people use during classes.
- Set up quizzes, surveys, and other checks to see whether the training actually helped.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Talk with managers and review business changes to spot what employees need to learn next.
02 Build or update orientation, workshop, and on-the-job training for new hires and current staff.
03 Create training handouts, slide decks, videos, and other materials people use during classes.
04 Set up quizzes, surveys, and other checks to see whether the training actually helped.
05 Watch trainers or classes and fix lessons that are confusing, outdated, or not getting results.
06 Coordinate schedules with supervisors so training fits around staffing, production, and shift coverage.
Industries That Hire
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Healthcare
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, Johnson & Johnson
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Finance & Insurance
JPMorgan Chase, Fidelity, Prudential
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Manufacturing
Toyota, 3M, General Electric
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Retail & Hospitality
Walmart, Marriott, Target
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong: the median annual wage is $127,090 and the mean is $140,590, which is well above what many business roles pay.
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You get to shape how people learn across the company, from onboarding new hires to rolling out new systems and policies.
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The work mixes teaching, planning, and problem-solving, so the job rarely feels like pure paperwork or pure classroom time.
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There are about 3.8 thousand annual openings, so even with a small workforce of 44,960 jobs, people do move in and out of the field.
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The skills can travel across industries, which makes it easier to move between sectors like healthcare, tech, manufacturing, and finance.
Challenges
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Most employers want at least a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of experience, so this is not a quick entry-level path.
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Projected growth is only 5.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 2.7 thousand new jobs added, so the field is growing but not quickly.
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Training and development budgets are often cut or delayed when companies need to save money, which can shrink projects and hiring.
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Because the occupation is relatively small, with only 44,960 workers, there are fewer leadership slots than in bigger business occupations.
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Basic course-building and standard e-learning content can be automated or outsourced, so managers have to keep proving their strategic value.
Career Progression
Training Coordinator
0-2 years
$45K-$65K
Handles scheduling, tracking attendance, and helping with basic training logistics while learning how employee development programs work.
Training Specialist
2-5 years
$65K-$95K
Leads smaller classes, helps build course materials, and takes on more responsibility for onboarding and skill-building programs.
Training and Development Manager THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$105K-$145K
Owns training strategy for a team or business unit, chooses the right training methods, and measures whether the work improves performance.
Senior Learning and Development Manager
10-15 years
$145K-$180K
Oversees several programs or departments, manages budgets and vendors, and aligns training plans with broader company goals.
Director of Learning and Development
15+ years
$180K-$230K
Sets the organization-wide learning strategy, manages managers, and defends training investments to senior leadership.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
This is the most common entry point, held by 71.43% of workers in this role.
Master's degree
A smaller but important path, held by 21.43% of workers, often in human resources, adult education, or organizational development.
Post-baccalaureate certificate
A narrower path, held by 7.14% of workers, often used to add instructional design or learning-and-development skills after a bachelor's degree.
Professional certification in training and development
A practical alternative for experienced trainers who want to move into management without earning another degree.
Key Skills
Technical
Learning Strategies & Adult Learning Theory 85%
Training Needs Analysis & Program Evaluation 78%
Articulate 360, Adobe Captivate & LMS Administration 76%
Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint & SurveyMonkey 74%
Zoom, Microsoft Teams & Virtual Classroom Tools 72%
Soft Skills
Active listeningClear speaking and presentationCoaching and mentoringCross-functional coordinationReading and interpreting feedbackSocial awareness and diplomacy Job Outlook and Trends
+5.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 46.4K to 49.2 K over the next decade, representing 5.8% growth. Around 3.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.