Career Profile: Training and Development Specialists

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 354,800 people employed as training and development specialists in the United States. The median annual salary is $61,570. Entry level employees earn approximately $31,340 per year and senior employees earn approximately $103,240 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Select and assign instructors to conduct training.
• Schedule classes based on availability of classrooms, equipment, or instructors.
• Supervise, evaluate, or refer instructors to skill development classes.
• Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.
• Monitor, evaluate, or record training activities or program effectiveness.
• Develop alternative training methods if expected improvements are not seen.
• Evaluate training materials prepared by instructors, such as outlines, text, or handouts.
• Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.
• Keep up with developments in area of expertise by reading current journals, books, or magazine articles.
• Negotiate contracts with clients for desired training outcomes, fees, or expenses.
• Attend meetings or seminars to obtain information for use in training programs or to inform management of training program status.
• Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives.
• Design, plan, organize, or direct orientation and training programs for employees or customers.
• Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.
• Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
• Monitor training costs and prepare budget reports to justify expenditures.
• Devise programs to develop executive potential among employees in lower-level positions.
• Coordinate recruitment and placement of training program participants.
• Develop or implement training programs related to efficiency, recycling, or other issues with environmental impacts.
• Refer trainees to employer relations representatives, to locations offering job placement assistance, or to appropriate social services agencies, if warranted.

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