All About Training and Development Specialists
Career Description Design and conduct training and development programs to improve individual and organizational performance. May analyze training needs.
Life As a Training or Development Specialist: What Do They Do?
- 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.
- Select and assign instructors to conduct training.
- Monitor training costs and prepare budget reports to justify expenditures.
- Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.
- Devise programs to develop executive potential among employees in lower-level positions.
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Training or Development Specialist Needed Skills
These are the skills Training and Development Specialists say are the most useful in their careers:
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Commercial Instructor Supervisor
- Training Developer
- Technical Training Coordinator
- Skills Trainer
- Training Coordinator
Job Outlook for Training and Development Specialists
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 282,800 jobs in the United States for Training or Development Specialist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 32,500 new jobs for Training or Development Specialist by 2026. There will be an estimated 31,700 positions for Training or Development Specialist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Training or Development Specialist are Utah, Nevada, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, West Virginia, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Training or Development Specialist
The average yearly salary of a Training or Development Specialist ranges between $32,950 and $102,740.

Training and Development Specialists who work in Washington, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
How much do Training and Development Specialists make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $60,280 |
Alaska | $49,310 |
Arizona | $61,460 |
Arkansas | $52,870 |
California | $73,040 |
Colorado | $72,210 |
Connecticut | $74,890 |
Delaware | $69,440 |
District of Columbia | $76,690 |
Florida | $57,100 |
Georgia | $64,420 |
Hawaii | $68,930 |
Idaho | $58,730 |
Illinois | $64,790 |
Indiana | $57,240 |
Iowa | $53,210 |
Kansas | $60,650 |
Kentucky | $54,240 |
Louisiana | $55,970 |
Maine | $54,360 |
Maryland | $67,420 |
Massachusetts | $75,270 |
Michigan | $61,090 |
Minnesota | $65,420 |
Mississippi | $55,590 |
Missouri | $61,210 |
Montana | $58,330 |
Nebraska | $58,740 |
Nevada | $60,700 |
New Hampshire | $66,330 |
New Jersey | $74,760 |
New Mexico | $56,520 |
New York | $69,910 |
North Carolina | $65,480 |
North Dakota | $59,830 |
Ohio | $59,540 |
Oklahoma | $54,640 |
Oregon | $65,740 |
Pennsylvania | $65,430 |
Rhode Island | $73,650 |
South Carolina | $58,010 |
South Dakota | $50,700 |
Tennessee | $59,460 |
Texas | $65,960 |
Utah | $54,480 |
Vermont | $65,860 |
Virginia | $72,320 |
Washington | $76,800 |
West Virginia | $50,640 |
Wisconsin | $55,070 |
Wyoming | $64,430 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Training and Development Specialists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Training and Development Specialists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Publisher
How do I Become a Training or Development Specialist?
Learn what Training or Development Specialist education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Training and Development Specialists Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Training and Development Specialists employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Training or Development Specialist might also be interested in the following careers:
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education
- Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
Those who work as a Training or Development Specialist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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