Where AI can help
AI can help produce exercises and adapt materials.
Business · A PICTURE OF THE OCCUPATION
Training and Development Specialists
Design and deliver training to improve team performance. They assess learning needs and whether training helped.
Observed AI exposureNot measured in this editionAnthropic · March 2026 study
Employment projection+10.8%2025–2035
Education typically neededBachelor’s degreeBLS · 2025
What the work looks like
- 01
Present information with a variety of instructional techniques or formats, such as role playing, simulations, team exercises, group discussions, videos, or lectures.
- 02
Obtain, organize, or develop training procedure manuals, guides, or course materials, such as handouts or visual materials.
- 03
Evaluate modes of training delivery, such as in-person or virtual, to optimize training effectiveness, training costs, or environmental impacts.
- 04
Offer specific training programs to help workers maintain or improve job skills.
- 05
Assess training needs through surveys, interviews with employees, focus groups, or consultation with managers, instructors, or customer representatives.
An example of an output
A workshop with an observable objective, practical activity and learning assessment.
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.Work environment
People development teams, consultancies and customer training. Includes preparation and group facilitation.
O*NET® 31.0 ↗Pay & demand
Mean annual pay$75,550
Median annual pay$69,280
Mean is the arithmetic average; median is the midpoint of the wage distribution. National occupational figures are not starting-salary promises.
10th percentile$38,760
90th percentile$123,250
Percentiles describe the workforce distribution, not junior and senior salary bands. Excludes self-employed workers; see the source for coverage.
BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗People employed in 2025472,500
Projected openings per year46,000
Includes replacement needs over 2025–2035. These are projections, not open job advertisements.
BLS · 2025–2035 ↗AI & your work
What still needs judgment
Diagnosing actual gaps and observing learning require interaction and assessment.
The task discussion is editorial interpretation. Only the exposure percentage is reproduced from the study; we do not assign percentages to individual tasks.
Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗You can also develop within this occupation
Use the exercise below to practice a real task, check AI outputs and identify where you need more depth. A career change is one option, not a requirement.
Prepare a short session on a skill you know. Test the activity and record what participants could do.
What entry usually requires
- Education typically needed
- Bachelor’s degree
- Related experience typically needed
- Less than 5 years
- Typical on-the-job training
- None specified in BLS classification
Typical requirements in BLS data, not universal hiring rules. Verify the employer’s requirements and any applicable credential or license.
BLS · 2025 ↗Skills to build on
Facilitationlearning designevaluationcommunication
Tools you may encounter
Presentations · learning platforms · surveys and instructional materials
Editorial example, not a reported worker interview. Tools vary by employer.
Where you could go next
These are researched starting points, not personalized recommendations or promises of lower AI exposure. Check the destination’s requirements and your own circumstances.
EDITORIAL TRANSITION$81,990 Mean annual pay
Human Resources Specialists ↗
People development experience can support other HR processes.
- What you can carry over
- Communication and needs assessment
- What you would need to learn
- Recruiting, records and policies
What to consider
Conflict handling and sensitive information differ; do not assume knowledge of all HR areas.
Explore the work before committing
1
Try a practical task
Prepare a short session on a skill you know. Test the activity and record what participants could do.
2
Read real job requirements
Use the official occupation title below to search current listings. Check duties, location, experience and compensation. External search results have not been verified as active by this directory.
Training and Development SpecialistsSearch external job listings ↗3
Check your assumptions with someone doing the work
Ask which tasks take the most time, how AI changed the routine and what evidence of skill helped them enter. Compare their experience with the published data.
My Next Move ↗Sources & data notes
O*NET® 31.0 · 13-1151.00 ↗BLS · May 2025 · USD/year ↗BLS · 2025–2035 ↗Anthropic · March 2026 study ↗Source & definition ↗
Occupational descriptions adapt the O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. Is my job toast? translated, shortened and supplemented the material. USDOL/ETA has not approved or endorsed these changes. CC BY 4.0 ↗