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Technology
Microsoft, Google, IBM
Training and Development Specialists
Training and development specialists figure out what employees need to learn, then build orientations, workshops, and online courses that teach it. The job is part teacher, part consultant, and part project manager, with a constant tradeoff between making training useful and keeping it affordable, measurable, and easy to deliver across different teams.
Also known as Learning and Development SpecialistTraining SpecialistCorporate TrainerLearning SpecialistTalent Development Specialist
Median Salary
$65,850
Mean $73,760
U.S. Workforce
~437K
43.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+10.8%
452.3K to 501K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Training and Development Specialists 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 ~437K workers, with a median annual pay of $65,850 and roughly 43.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 452.3 K in 2024 to 501K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Training Coordinator and can progress toward Learning and Development Manager. High-value skills usually include Training Facilitation & Adult Learning Design, Needs Assessment, Surveys & Focus Groups, and LMS Administration (Workday Learning, Cornerstone, Docebo), paired with soft skills such as Clear communication, Presentation skills, and Active listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Talk with employees, managers, and other stakeholders to find out what people need to learn or improve.
- Design and organize onboarding sessions, workshops, and other training programs for staff or customers.
- Decide whether a course should be taught in person, online, or both, based on cost, reach, and effectiveness.
- Review slides, handouts, lesson plans, and other training materials before they are used.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Talk with employees, managers, and other stakeholders to find out what people need to learn or improve.
02 Design and organize onboarding sessions, workshops, and other training programs for staff or customers.
03 Decide whether a course should be taught in person, online, or both, based on cost, reach, and effectiveness.
04 Review slides, handouts, lesson plans, and other training materials before they are used.
05 Help enroll people in training programs and keep track of schedules, attendance, and participation.
06 Stay current on best practices in training and development by reading, attending seminars, and updating programs as needed.
Industries That Hire
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Healthcare
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, CVS Health
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Finance
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, American Express
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Education
Pearson, Scholastic, University of Phoenix
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Consulting
Deloitte, Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The median pay is $65,850, and the mean is $73,760, so experienced specialists can move above the middle quickly if they build strong program skills.
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Job growth is projected at 10.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than many office jobs and points to steady demand.
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There are about 43.9 thousand annual openings, so new jobs should keep coming from growth and replacement needs.
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The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree, with no on-the-job training required, so the path is fairly direct for college graduates.
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The work can be varied and visible: one week may focus on onboarding, the next on virtual workshops, leadership development, or a new compliance course.
Challenges
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Pay is solid but not exceptional for a role that mixes teaching, planning, and business consulting, especially at the median of $65,850.
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A lot of the job depends on other managers making time for training, so good ideas can stall if leaders do not support them.
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Training budgets are often the first thing cut when companies want to save money, which can make the role vulnerable in downturns.
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It can be hard to prove exactly how much a workshop or course improved performance, so results may be judged with imperfect data rather than clear numbers.
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Career growth can flatten unless you move into management or organizational development, because many companies cap specialist pay and expect broader responsibility for higher salaries.
Career Progression
Training Coordinator
0-2 years
$40K-$51K
Handles scheduling, records, materials, and other logistics while learning how training programs are built and delivered.
Training Specialist
2-5 years
$52K-$63K
Runs classes, supports onboarding, and helps shape lessons and exercises for specific teams or business needs.
Training and Development Specialist THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$64K-$78K
Builds and evaluates training programs, works with managers to identify needs, and balances teaching with business goals.
Senior Learning and Development Specialist
7-12 years
$79K-$105K
Leads more complex learning projects, coaches junior staff, and often owns programs that serve multiple departments.
Learning and Development Manager
10+ years
$106K-$140K
Oversees training strategy, budgets, vendor choices, and program results for an entire organization or business unit.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
This is the main entry path, and 78.26% of workers in the field have a bachelor's degree.
Associate degree
A smaller share of workers, 8.7%, enter with an associate degree and build experience in training, HR, or operations.
High school diploma
Another 8.7% come in with only a high school diploma, usually after gaining strong workplace experience and moving up internally.
Postsecondary certificate in training, HR, or instructional design
A certificate can help people with strong experience break into the field, especially if they already know how to train others or build learning materials.
Key Skills
Technical
Training Facilitation & Adult Learning Design 88%
Needs Assessment, Surveys & Focus Groups 86%
LMS Administration (Workday Learning, Cornerstone, Docebo) 82%
Articulate 360, Captivate & eLearning Authoring 79%
Excel, PowerPoint & Training Metrics Reporting 77%
Soft Skills
Clear communicationPresentation skillsActive listeningRelationship buildingCoaching and mentoringCritical thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+10.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
43.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 452.3K to 501 K over the next decade, representing 10.8% growth. Around 43.9 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.