What Does it Take to Be a Training or Development Specialist?
Training or Development Specialist Example Design and conduct training and development programs to improve individual and organizational performance. May analyze training needs.
Training or Development Specialist Responsibilities
- 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.
- 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.
- Present information using a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
- Coordinate recruitment and placement of training program participants.
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What Every Training or Development Specialist Should Know
When polled, Training and Development Specialists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Types of Training or Development Specialist Jobs
- Employee Development Specialist
- Trainer
- Corporate Trainer
- Training Assistant
- Course Developer
What Kind of Training or Development Specialist Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 282,800 jobs for Training or Development Specialist in 2016. 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. The BLS estimates 31,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
What is the Average Salary of a Training or Development Specialist
Training and Development Specialists make between $32,950 and $102,740 a year.

Training and Development Specialists who work in Washington, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Training and Development Specialists in different U.S. states.
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
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Training and Development Specialists:
- 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
Becoming a Training or Development Specialist
Are there Training and Development Specialists education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Training or Development Specialist?

Training and Development Specialists Sector

Below are examples of industries where Training and Development Specialists work:

Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Training or Development Specialist may also be interested in:
- 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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