Work Environment
Training and development specialists held about 328,700 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of training and development specialists were as follows:
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - 13%
- Healthcare and social assistance - 12%
- Educational services; state, local, and private - 11%
- Finance and insurance - 11%
- Administrative and support services - 7%
Training and development specialists spend much of their time working with people, giving presentations, and leading training activities. They also may need to travel to training sites.
Work Schedules
Most training and development specialists work full time during regular business hours.
Job Outlook
Employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 35,200 openings for training and development specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Employees in many occupations are required to take continuing education and skill development courses throughout their careers, creating demand for workers who lead training activities.
Employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow in many industries as companies develop and introduce new media and technology into their training programs. Innovations in training methods and learning technology should continue throughout the next decade.
In addition, some organizations meet their employees’ needs by outsourcing instruction to firms that specialize in training and development.
Earnings
The median annual wage for training and development specialists was $61,570 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,340, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,240.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for training and development specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $77,280
- Finance and insurance - $63,460
- Educational services; state, local, and private - $62,600
- Healthcare and social assistance - $60,110
- Administrative and support services - $49,210
Most training and development specialists work full time during regular business hours.
