Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 328,700 people employed as training and development specialists in the United States. The median annual salary is $62,700. Entry level employees earn approximately $33,900 per year and senior employees earn approximately $107,060 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, 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.

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