Training and Development Specialists

Career Overview

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

Also Known As

  • Corporate Trainer
  • Job Training Specialist
  • Learning and Development Specialist (L and D Specialist)
  • Training Specialist

Alternate Job Titles

  • Applications Trainer
  • Apprenticeship and Training Representative
  • Auxiliary Personnel Inservice Coordinator
  • Bilingual Trainer
  • Certified EPIC Trainer (Certified Electronic Privacy Information Center Trainer)
  • Computer Software Training Specialist
  • Computer Technology Trainer
  • Computer Training Specialist
  • Corporate Trainer
  • Course Developer
  • Courseware Developer
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Curriculum Writer
  • Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer
  • Cyber Instructor

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
  • Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.
  • Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.
  • Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.
  • Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives.
  • Monitor, evaluate, or record training activities or program effectiveness.
  • Design, plan, organize, or direct orientation and training programs for employees or customers.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Education and Training
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Personnel and Human Resources

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Speaking
  2. Instructing
  3. Learning Strategies
  4. Active Listening
  5. Social Perceptiveness
  6. Reading Comprehension
  7. Writing
  8. Critical Thinking
  9. Active Learning
  10. Monitoring

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Oral Expression
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Written Comprehension
  • Speech Recognition
  • Speech Clarity
  • Written Expression
  • Fluency of Ideas
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Near Vision
  • Problem Sensitivity

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Dependability
  • Social Orientation
  • Innovation
  • Cooperation
  • Adaptability

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Relationships
  • Achievement
  • Independence
  • Working Conditions
  • Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Cisco Webex
  • Django
  • Epic Systems
  • Hypertext markup language HTML

Tools & Equipment

  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Laser printers
  • Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
  • Overhead display projectors
  • Personal computers

Work Environment

  • E-Mail
  • Contact With Others
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Freedom to Make Decisions

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$37,510
Median$65,850
Top Earners (90th percentile)$120,190

Workers Employed Nationally: 436,610

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:


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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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