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Training and development specialists, also called corporate trainers, are responsible for grooming employees for better performance by creating individual and company-wide training and development programs. They use a variety of methods to assess a company's training needs, including surveys, focus groups, one-on-one interviews with employees, and discussions and meetings with managers and other high-ranking staff.

Corporate trainers are familiar with all forms of media used to conduct training programs, including written and oral instruction and audio/visual methods. They also possess a good grasp of the inherent benefits of each mode of communication and its limitations. They often use a blend of each medium to create training programs designed to help employees improve their performance. Since corporate trainers often monitor programs to ensure costs don't exceed training budgets and prepare itemized reports for department managers detailing their expenditures, they must be proficient in financial spreadsheet programs.

Training and development specialist salary 2011

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national annual training and development specialist salary in 2011 was a median of $55,150. The upper 10 percent of people working in this profession earned just under $92,000 per year, though, while the bottom 10 percent took home closer to $32,000 annually, the BLS reports.

There were 205,680 people employed as training and development specialists in 2011. The majority worked for private businesses, according to BLS reports, with the highest concentration of jobs at computer design firms, insurance carriers, consulting firms and hospitals. Salaries from these employers typically run several thousand dollars higher than national averages.

California, Texas, New York and Florida -- some of the most populous states in the nation -- employed the most training and development specialists. Annual mean wages were as follows:

• California: $67,100 mean
• New York: $65,400 mean
• Texas: $56,810 mean

The following states offered the highest mean wages in 2011:

• Washington: $70,200 mean
• Connecticut: $70,150 mean
• New Jersey: $69,410 mean

Training and development specialists job outlook

Job prospects are expected to be favorable at consulting and scientific firms, as well as in management positions, according to the BLS. The high number of baby boomers leaving the workforce, coupled with a fleet of new job candidates coming in to fill their roles, is expected to create strong job growth for corporate trainers to develop a highly competent workforce.

While a bachelor's degree may be adequate for some jobs in this field, others may require a master's degree. Certification is not always required to work as as a training and development specialist, but there are certifications available. According to the BLS, some employers may give preference to certified applicants, and job prospects could be favorable for these applicants. Certifications can be obtained from the American Society for Training and Development and the International Society for Performance Improvement.