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Training or Development Specialist

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Life As a Training or Development Specialist

Position Description Design and conduct training and development programs to improve individual and organizational performance. May analyze training needs.

Daily Life Of a Training or Development Specialist

  • Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives.
  • Develop alternative training methods if expected improvements are not seen.
  • Attend meetings or seminars to obtain information for use in training programs or to inform management of training program status.
  • Coordinate recruitment and placement of training program participants.
  • Develop or implement training programs related to efficiency, recycling, or other issues with environmental impacts.
  • Negotiate contracts with clients including desired training outcomes, fees, or expenses.

Training or Development Specialist Required Skills

When polled, Training and Development Specialists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Technical Instructor
  • Management Development Specialist
  • Courseware Developer
  • Personnel Training Officer
  • Green Jobs Trainer

Is There Going to be Demand for Training and Development Specialists?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 282,800 jobs in the United States for Training or Development Specialist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 32,500 new jobs for Training or Development Specialist by 2026. The BLS estimates 31,700 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Training or Development Specialist are Utah, Nevada, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, West Virginia, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Training or Development Specialist Salary

The salary for Training and Development Specialists ranges between about $32,950 and $102,740 a year.

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Training and Development Specialists who work in Washington, New Jersey, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Training and Development Specialists in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $60,280
Alaska $49,310
Arizona $61,460
Arkansas $52,870
California $73,040
Colorado $72,210
Connecticut $74,890
Delaware $69,440
District of Columbia $76,690
Florida $57,100
Georgia $64,420
Hawaii $68,930
Idaho $58,730
Illinois $64,790
Indiana $57,240
Iowa $53,210
Kansas $60,650
Kentucky $54,240
Louisiana $55,970
Maine $54,360
Maryland $67,420
Massachusetts $75,270
Michigan $61,090
Minnesota $65,420
Mississippi $55,590
Missouri $61,210
Montana $58,330
Nebraska $58,740
Nevada $60,700
New Hampshire $66,330
New Jersey $74,760
New Mexico $56,520
New York $69,910
North Carolina $65,480
North Dakota $59,830
Ohio $59,540
Oklahoma $54,640
Oregon $65,740
Pennsylvania $65,430
Rhode Island $73,650
South Carolina $58,010
South Dakota $50,700
Tennessee $59,460
Texas $65,960
Utah $54,480
Vermont $65,860
Virginia $72,320
Washington $76,800
West Virginia $50,640
Wisconsin $55,070
Wyoming $64,430

What Tools do Training and Development Specialists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Training and Development Specialists may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • MySQL
  • Data entry software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Project
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • IBM Notes
  • Microsoft Publisher

How to Become a Training or Development Specialist

What kind of Training or Development Specialist requirements are there?

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What work experience do I need to become a Training or Development Specialist?

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Where do Training and Development Specialists Work?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Training or Development Specialist might also be interested in the following careers:

Those who work as a Training or Development Specialist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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