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.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Communicating clearly through speech while listening carefully to understand others.
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
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. Work Experience in a Related Occupation Related work experience is important for most training and development specialists. Positions may require work experience in areas such as staff development or instructional design or in related occupations, such as human resources specialists or teachers. Employers also may prefer to hire candidates who have work experience in a relevant industry or with virtual learning, mobile training, and technology-based tools. However, employers may hire candidates who have a master’s degree instead of work experience.
Training
and Development Specialist Training and development specialists must have strong instructional skills to meet the learning needs of a particular group. Training and development specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree and related work experience. However, candidates who do not have a bachelor’s degree sometimes qualify for jobs if they have relevant experience.
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. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. 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.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 46,000 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 training and development courses throughout their careers, creating demand for the specialists who lead these activities. As technology continues to advance, workers may need to learn new skillsets to use these technologies in their jobs. Continuous training and upskilling will increase the demand for training and development specialists as the skills relevant to many occupations evolve. In addition, more of these specialists are expected to be needed to develop employee training related to complying with internal policies and regulatory requirements. Training and Development Specialists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Training and development specialists 11% Business operations specialists 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Training and Development Specialists Do
Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge.
Duties
Training and development specialists typically do the following:
- Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, or consultations with managers or instructors
- Design and create training manuals, online learning modules, and course materials
- Review training materials from multiple sources and choose appropriate materials
- Deliver training to employees using a variety of instructional techniques
- Assist in evaluating training programs
- Perform administrative tasks such as monitoring costs, scheduling classes, setting up systems and equipment, and coordinating enrollment
Training and development specialists help create, plan, and run training programs for businesses and organizations. To do this, they must first assess the needs of an organization. They then develop custom training programs that may take place online, in classrooms, or in training facilities.
Training and development specialists organize or run training sessions using lectures, team exercises and other formats. Training also may be in the form of a video, a self-guided instructional manual, or an online application. Training may be collaborative, allowing employees to connect informally with colleagues, experts, and mentors.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Training and development specialists held about 472,500 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of training and development specialists were as follows:
| Healthcare and social assistance | 12% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11 |
| Finance and insurance | 8 |
| 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.
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. 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.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about training and development specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Find Education Programs
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Explore pathway →Hear From ED
Use the guided career counseling experience to connect this career to your goals, skills and education preferences.
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.