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.