Training and Development Specialists
Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees.
Is training and development specialists a good career?
It scores 34/100 and ranks #106 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays above the U.S. median wage ($69,280)
- Faster-than-average projected growth (+10.8% through 2034)
- High volume of openings — about 43,900 a year
Possible tradeoffs
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
- Often needs prior experience (less than 5 years)
What training and development specialists earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. training and development specialists earn between $50,110 and $95,050 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live training and development specialists jobs
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- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2034.
Education
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.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Although not usually required, certification shows professional expertise and credibility. However, some employers prefer to hire certified candidates, and some positions require certification.
Advancement
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.
Important qualities
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.
Related occupations
How much do training and development specialists make?
The national median wage is $69,280 a year, with the middle half earning between $50,110 and $95,050 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is training and development specialists a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 34 of 100 and ranks #106 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +10.8% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a training and development specialist?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree, usually with less than 5 years.
Where do training and development specialists earn the most?
Among states, Delaware pays the highest median ($88,570). Local pay for every state and metro is below.