Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Guiding people or projects, setting direction, taking responsibility, and helping others succeed.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a
Education
and related work experience to become a training and development manager. Candidates typically need a combination of education and related work experience to become a training and development manager. Although many positions require a bachelor’s degree, some jobs require a master’s degree. Education Many positions require training and development managers to have a bachelor’s degree, but some jobs require a master’s degree. Although training and development managers come from a variety of educational backgrounds, these workers commonly have a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, social science, or a related field. Some employers prefer or require training and development managers to have a master’s degree with a concentration in training and development, human resources management, organizational development, or business administration (MBA). Training and development managers may also benefit from studying instructional design, behavioral psychology, or educational psychology. Work Experience in a Related Occupation Related work experience is essential for training and development managers. Many positions require work experience in management, teaching, or training and development or another human resources field. For example, some training and development managers start out as training and development specialists. Some employers also prefer experience in the industry in which the company operates.
Training
and Development Manager Most candidates need a combination of
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Although it is not required for training and development managers, certification may show professional expertise. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have certification, and some positions require it. Many professional associations for human resources professionals offer classes to enhance the skills of their members. Some associations specialize in training and development and offer certification programs. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of training and development managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 4,100 openings for training and development managers 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 In many occupations, employees are required to take continuing education and skill development courses throughout their careers, creating demand for workers who develop and provide training materials. Innovations in training methods and learning technology are expected to continue throughout the decade. Organizations use social media, visual simulations, mobile learning, and social networks to ensure their training programs are engaging and cost-effective. Training and development managers are expected to be needed to integrate these features into training programs and curriculums. Training and Development Managers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Operations specialties managers 9% Training and development managers 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Training and Development Managers Do
Training and development managers plan, coordinate, and direct skills- and knowledge-enhancement programs for an organization’s staff.
Duties
Training and development managers typically do the following:
- Oversee training and development staff
- Assess employees’ needs for training
- Align training with the organization’s goals
- Create and manage training budgets
- Develop and implement training programs
- Review and select training materials from a variety of vendors
- Update training programs to ensure that they are relevant
- Teach training methods and skills to instructors and supervisors
- Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs and instructors
Training and development managers oversee training programs, staff, and budgets. They are responsible for creating or selecting course content and materials for training programs. Training may be in the form of a video, self-guided instructional manual, or online application and delivered in person or through a computer or other hand-held electronic device. Training also may be collaborative, with employees informally connecting with experts, mentors, and colleagues, often through social media or other online medium. Managers must ensure that training methods, content, software, systems, and equipment are appropriate.
Training and development managers typically supervise a staff of training and development specialists, such as instructional designers, program developers, and instructors. Managers teach training methods to specialists who, in turn, instruct the organization’s employees—both new and experienced. Managers direct the daily activities of specialists and evaluate their effectiveness. Although training and development managers primarily oversee specialists and program operations, some also conduct training courses.
Training and development managers often confer with managers of other departments to identify training needs. They may work with top executives and financial managers to identify and match training priorities with overall business goals. They may also prepare training budgets and ensure that expenses stay within budget.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Training and development managers held about 50,200 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of training and development managers were as follows:
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 12 |
| Finance and insurance | 10 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 9 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 9 |
Training and development managers typically work in offices. Some travel between a main office and regional offices or training facilities. They spend much of their time working with people and overseeing training activities.
Work Schedules
Most training and development managers work full time during regular business hours. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Business skills. Training and development managers must understand business operations in order to match training with business goals. They also need to be able to plan and adhere to budgets. Collaboration skills. Training and development managers need strong interpersonal skills for working with staff, trainees, subject matter experts, and organization leaders. They accomplish much of their work through teams. Communication skills. Training and development managers must clearly convey information to diverse audiences. They also must be able to effectively instruct their staff. Critical-thinking skills. Training and development managers use critical-thinking skills when assessing classes, materials, and programs. They must identify the training needs of an organization and make changes and improvements as required. Decision-making skills. Training and development managers must select or create the best training programs to meet the needs of an organization. For example, they must review available training methods and materials and choose those that best fit each program. Collaboration skills. Training and development managers need strong interpersonal skills because delivering training programs requires working in concert with staff, trainees, subject matter experts, and the organization’s leaders. They also accomplish much of their work through teams. Instructional skills. Training and development managers need to understand the fundamentals of teaching and lesson planning. In addition to developing training, they may lead courses or seminars. Leadership skills. Managers are often in charge of a staff and programs. They must be able to organize, motivate, and instruct those working for them.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about training and development managers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.