Training & Development Specialist
Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees.
What the job is
- The work
- Training and development specialists plan and administer programs that improve the skills and knowledge of their employees.
BLS
Training and Development Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Training and development specialists work in nearly every industry. They spend much of their time working with people, giving presentations, and leading training activities.
BLS
Training and Development Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- People who like teaching adults, building courses and helping a workforce learn new skills.
- Career cluster
- Management & Entrepreneurship
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (training and development specialists).
- Median pay
- $69,280 a year ($33.31 an hour)
BLS
Training and Development Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 472,500
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- Training after hire
- None
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +11%, which BLS calls "much faster than average"
BLS
Training and Development Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +51,100 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- In addition to a bachelor’s degree, training and development specialists also need work experience and strong communication skills.
BLS
Training and Development Specialists — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Training and development specialists typically need a bachelor's degree, often in organizational development or human resources, and related work experience. Candidates without a degree sometimes qualify with extensive experience developing and delivering training; some employers take a master's degree instead of experience.
- License
- None
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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StateChoose a state
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- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Training and development specialist: bachelor's degree plus experience in HR, teaching or instructional design
See the roadmap
Route 1: Degree → HR, teaching or instructional design → specialist · Route 2: Master's degree instead of work experience · Route 3: Specialist → training and development manager
More careers in Management & Entrepreneurship
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.