Becoming a Training Specialist via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering leadership courses to train individuals to become top-notch organizational leadership consultants, business coaches, business leaders, leaders, leadership trainers, leadership specialists, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 205,020 people employed as training and development specialists alone in America, and their average annual salary is $55,310. Training and development managers make on average $94,360 per year and there are about 29,320 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Training Specialist
  • Small businesses
  • Corporations
  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Universities
  • Technology Firms
  • Law firms
  • Government Agencies
  • Banks
  • Sales and Marketing Firms
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Training Specialist
  • Good pay
  • Good benefits from employer
  • Job security
  • Get to meet new people everyday
  • Help teach people new things about there job
  • Vacation time
  • Rewarding Job
  • Not much schooling needed
  • Be creative with your training techniques
  • Be on the cutting edge of training equipment
Potential Drawbacks
  • Long hours
  • A lot of time spent away from home
  • Job can get very boring
  • Not much flexibility in job schedule
  • Have to deal with people who don't want the training
  • Be on your feet for long periods of time
  • Increased anxiety
  • Can be very stressful
  • Increase in frustration
  • Change in weight/appetite
Related Professions to Consider
  • Publications Specialist
  • Sr. Publications Specialist
  • Technical Training Specialist
  • Publications Specialist
  • CAD Specialist Trainer
  • Patient Account Specialist III/Education and Training Specialist
  • Publications Specialist
  • Marketing Specialist
  • Hazardous Materials Training Specialist
  • Supervisor Training Specialist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Training Specialist
  • Why do you need proper training tools and methods?
  • How would you judge an employees performance?
  • Which actions you would not take in preparing the training manual?
  • Why have you chosen this career?
  • Tell me something about yourself?
  • What specific skills do you bring to the trainer position?
  • Give me an example of a learning intervention you implemented which was successful?
  • What has been the most difficult training situation that you have had to deal with and what did you do?
  • How have you gone about identifying employee training needs in the organization?
  • What do you consider the key criteria for training to be effective?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Instructor
  • Benefits Configuration Specialist
  • Craft Specialist
  • ICD Nurse Specialist II
  • Collection Specialist
  • Sales Specialist
  • Global Training Manager
  • Senior Specialist
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Business Applications Specialist
Training Specialist Training books Training Specialist (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • accounting
  • advertising
  • business
  • communications
  • construction management
  • human resources
  • finance
  • financial management
  • financial planning
  • taxation

Training Specialist Salary Information

Category: Training and development managers

Total # Employed in the US 29,320
Average Hourly Wage: $45.37/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$23.83 $31.69 $42.35 $55.3 $70.59
Average Yearly Salary $94,360
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$49,560 $65,910 $88,090 $115,020 $146,820
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
2.3% 12.5% 21.7% 7.4% 36.3% 17.8% 2.0%
Training and development managers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
District of Columbia $58.53/hr $121,740
Oklahoma $58.28/hr $121,230
North Dakota $55.69/hr $115,840
Missouri $52.35/hr $108,890
Connecticut $50.76/hr $105,590
Oregon $50.39/hr $104,810
Florida $49.89/hr $103,760
Colorado $49.61/hr $103,180
Nebraska $49.31/hr $102,560
Mississippi $48.2/hr $100,260
Virginia $46.78/hr $97,310
Utah $46.52/hr $96,770
Delaware $45.82/hr $95,300
Idaho $44.73/hr $93,040
North Carolina $44.61/hr $92,780
South Carolina $44.57/hr $92,710
Wyoming $43.77/hr $91,040
Hawaii $43.49/hr $90,450
Kansas $42.91/hr $89,250
Tennessee $42.69/hr $88,790
Montana $41.44/hr $86,200
Maine $41.13/hr $85,550
Pennsylvania $40.62/hr $84,480
New Hampshire $40.58/hr $84,410
New Mexico $40.29/hr $83,800
Guam $38.1/hr $79,250
Washington $37.36/hr $77,710
New York $37.3/hr $77,580
California $37.26/hr $77,490
Arkansas $37.07/hr $77,100
Alabama $36.84/hr $76,640
Alaska $36.44/hr $75,800
Louisiana $36.26/hr $75,420
Kentucky $36.14/hr $75,160
Nevada $35.83/hr $74,520
Michigan $35.73/hr $74,310
Wisconsin $33.92/hr $70,560
Maryland $33.23/hr $69,120
Indiana $32.36/hr $67,300
Massachusetts $32.01/hr $66,590
South Dakota $30.6/hr $63,650
Ohio $30.57/hr $63,590
Iowa $29.2/hr $60,730
New Jersey $28.74/hr $59,780


Category: Training and development specialists

Total # Employed in the US 205,020
Average Hourly Wage: $26.59/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.48 $18.89 $25.06 $32.84 $41.28
Average Yearly Salary $55,310
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$30,120 $39,280 $52,120 $68,300 $85,860
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.6% 13.7% 22.9% 9.2% 37.7% 13.2% 1.8%
Training and development specialists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $33.03/hr $68,710
North Dakota $32.01/hr $66,570
Colorado $31.33/hr $65,170
Oklahoma $30.19/hr $62,790
Delaware $29.83/hr $62,050
Missouri $29.7/hr $61,770
District of Columbia $29.46/hr $61,270
Mississippi $28.82/hr $59,940
Alaska $28.1/hr $58,440
Virginia $27.84/hr $57,900
Nebraska $27.7/hr $57,620
Idaho $26.89/hr $55,920
Connecticut $26.83/hr $55,810
Oregon $26.56/hr $55,250
Kansas $26.53/hr $55,170
Montana $26.41/hr $54,930
Tennessee $26.19/hr $54,470
Arkansas $25.8/hr $53,660
Ohio $25.8/hr $53,650
South Carolina $25.71/hr $53,480
Wyoming $25.27/hr $52,560
Washington $25.02/hr $52,050
Hawaii $24.99/hr $51,970
Utah $24.83/hr $51,640
Indiana $24.65/hr $51,280
Kentucky $24.16/hr $50,260
Puerto Rico $24.11/hr $50,150
Maine $24/hr $49,910
Michigan $23.96/hr $49,830
New Hampshire $23.84/hr $49,590
North Carolina $23.77/hr $49,450
New Mexico $23.56/hr $49,010
Wisconsin $23.53/hr $48,940
Iowa $23.3/hr $48,470
Alabama $23.16/hr $48,180
New York $23.11/hr $48,080
Pennsylvania $23.03/hr $47,890
Maryland $22.8/hr $47,430
Louisiana $22.61/hr $47,040
Guam $22.47/hr $46,730
Massachusetts $21.77/hr $45,290
South Dakota $20.19/hr $42,000
California $20.09/hr $41,780
Nevada $19.98/hr $41,560
New Jersey $19.83/hr $41,240
West Virginia $18.99/hr $39,510


Category: Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other

Total # Employed in the US 219,240
Average Hourly Wage: $28.4/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$13.16 $20.11 $27.14 $35.83 $45.42
Average Yearly Salary $59,070
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$27,360 $41,820 $56,440 $74,520 $94,470
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.6% 13.7% 22.9% 9.2% 37.7% 13.2% 1.8%
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $44.69/hr $92,940
Mississippi $34.01/hr $70,730
Colorado $33.23/hr $69,130
North Dakota $32.81/hr $68,240
Connecticut $32.62/hr $67,850
Delaware $32.13/hr $66,830
Missouri $31.49/hr $65,500
Idaho $30.39/hr $63,220
Nevada $29.94/hr $62,280
Nebraska $29.94/hr $62,280
Ohio $29.74/hr $61,850
Alaska $29.65/hr $61,680
Oklahoma $29.5/hr $61,360
Tennessee $29.25/hr $60,850
District of Columbia $29.24/hr $60,820
Wyoming $29.16/hr $60,640
Wisconsin $28.6/hr $59,490
Indiana $28.51/hr $59,300
Maine $28.02/hr $58,280
Oregon $27.5/hr $57,200
Puerto Rico $27.49/hr $57,180
Arkansas $27.41/hr $57,000
Hawaii $27.02/hr $56,200
New York $26.95/hr $56,060
New Hampshire $26.91/hr $55,980
Pennsylvania $26.81/hr $55,770
Washington $26.53/hr $55,180
Guam $26.47/hr $55,070
Iowa $26.12/hr $54,320
Utah $25.91/hr $53,880
New Jersey $25.67/hr $53,390
Alabama $25.61/hr $53,270
North Carolina $25.56/hr $53,170
Kansas $25.33/hr $52,690
Montana $24.75/hr $51,480
California $24.44/hr $50,830
Massachusetts $24.28/hr $50,500
Michigan $24.27/hr $50,480
South Dakota $24.17/hr $50,280
New Mexico $23.78/hr $49,450
Louisiana $23.63/hr $49,150
Kentucky $22.93/hr $47,700
Virginia $22.84/hr $47,510
Maryland $22.78/hr $47,380
South Carolina $22.3/hr $46,380


Category: Education, training, and library occupations

Total # Employed in the US 8,488,740
Average Hourly Wage: $23.81/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$9.84 $14.58 $21.74 $29.85 $39.57
Average Yearly Salary $49,530
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$20,470 $30,330 $45,210 $62,080 $82,310
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
% % % % % % %
Education, training, and library occupations — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Florida $29.5/hr $61,360
Missouri $28/hr $58,230
Virginia $27.87/hr $57,970
Oklahoma $27.72/hr $57,650
Kansas $27.41/hr $57,000
Delaware $27.27/hr $56,710
Colorado $27.22/hr $56,610
Alaska $27.16/hr $56,490
Mississippi $27.14/hr $56,460
North Dakota $25.81/hr $53,690
Utah $25/hr $52,000
District of Columbia $24.33/hr $50,610
Montana $23.9/hr $49,720
South Carolina $23.51/hr $48,910
Connecticut $22.88/hr $47,580
Wyoming $22.85/hr $47,530
Indiana $22.66/hr $47,140
Hawaii $22.56/hr $46,920
Nebraska $22.27/hr $46,320
New York $22.11/hr $45,980
Maryland $22.11/hr $45,980
Tennessee $22.1/hr $45,960
North Carolina $21.88/hr $45,510
Alabama $21.52/hr $44,750
Ohio $21.34/hr $44,390
Puerto Rico $21.28/hr $44,260
Iowa $21.11/hr $43,900
Idaho $21.02/hr $43,720
New Hampshire $20.91/hr $43,490
Washington $20.8/hr $43,260
Kentucky $20.55/hr $42,750
Guam $20.55/hr $42,730
Arkansas $20.3/hr $42,220
Louisiana $20.09/hr $41,780
Michigan $20.08/hr $41,760
Massachusetts $19.96/hr $41,510
New Mexico $19.91/hr $41,410
Oregon $19.85/hr $41,290
Wisconsin $19.77/hr $41,130
Pennsylvania $19.51/hr $40,590
California $19.36/hr $40,280
Maine $19.05/hr $39,630
South Dakota $18.87/hr $39,250
Nevada $18.49/hr $38,460
West Virginia $18.01/hr $37,460
New Jersey $17.39/hr $36,180


Category: Athletic trainers

Total # Employed in the US 15,260
Average Yearly Salary $44,020
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$25,510 $33,810 $41,340 $51,310 $65,140
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
1.1% 11.9% 16.7% 8.4% 39.1% 20.7% 2.1%
Athletic trainers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Alabama - $39,920
Arkansas - $39,140
California - $42,480
Colorado - $46,650
Connecticut - $41,550
Delaware - $62,590
Florida - $72,910
Hawaii - $45,970
Idaho - $41,750
Indiana - $46,360
Iowa - $43,890
Kansas - $46,820
Kentucky - $43,600
Louisiana - $37,880
Maine - $41,670
Maryland - $37,840
Massachusetts - $29,720
Michigan - $46,140
Mississippi - $45,310
Missouri - $49,070
Montana - $44,580
Nebraska - $44,130
Nevada - $39,790
New Hampshire - $43,430
New Jersey - $30,740
New Mexico - $39,460
New York - $49,900
North Carolina - $47,730
North Dakota - $52,000
Ohio - $28,450
Oklahoma - $47,600
Oregon - $40,290
Pennsylvania - $37,900
South Carolina - $42,860
South Dakota - $36,380
Tennessee - $50,420
Utah - $38,330
Virginia - $50,510
Washington - $38,630
West Virginia - $35,870
Wisconsin - $45,410
Wyoming - $45,870
Guam - $58,920
Puerto Rico - $43,230


Category: Animal trainers

Total # Employed in the US 10,080
Average Hourly Wage: $14.94/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.13 $9.48 $12.95 $18.05 $25.06
Average Yearly Salary $31,080
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16,920 $19,710 $26,930 $37,540 $52,130
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
10.1% 32.3% 23.1% 9.6% 20.8% 3.3% 0.7%
Animal trainers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
District of Columbia $18.03/hr $37,500
Nebraska $17.61/hr $36,630
Delaware $17.25/hr $35,890
Maryland $16.55/hr $34,410
Hawaii $16.48/hr $34,280
Wisconsin $16.47/hr $34,250
Oklahoma $16.34/hr $33,980
Colorado $16.28/hr $33,850
Wyoming $16.2/hr $33,700
North Carolina $15.97/hr $33,220
North Dakota $15.05/hr $31,300
Louisiana $15/hr $31,190
Missouri $14.83/hr $30,850
Iowa $14.7/hr $30,570
Idaho $14.66/hr $30,500
Kansas $14.49/hr $30,140
New Hampshire $14.2/hr $29,530
South Carolina $13.91/hr $28,930
Guam $13.91/hr $28,930
Massachusetts $13.69/hr $28,470
Washington $13.58/hr $28,240
Mississippi $13.5/hr $28,070
Montana $13.47/hr $28,010
Connecticut $13.11/hr $27,280
Maine $12.97/hr $26,970
Utah $12.88/hr $26,800
Oregon $12.8/hr $26,620
Arkansas $12.18/hr $25,330
Indiana $12.12/hr $25,200
Alabama $11.89/hr $24,730
New York $11.7/hr $24,340
South Dakota $11.36/hr $23,620
California $11.32/hr $23,540
Kentucky $11/hr $22,870
New Mexico $10.45/hr $21,740
Tennessee $10.33/hr $21,500


Category: Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors

Total # Employed in the US 228,170
Average Hourly Wage: $16.99/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$7.9 $9.55 $14.74 $21.98 $29.86
Average Yearly Salary $35,340
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$16,430 $19,860 $30,670 $45,720 $62,120
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
3.5% 20.1% 25.1% 9.7% 32.5% 8.0% 1.1%
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Oklahoma $23.48/hr $48,830
Florida $21.91/hr $45,570
Missouri $21.84/hr $45,430
North Dakota $20.38/hr $42,400
Colorado $19.7/hr $40,980
Delaware $19.51/hr $40,570
Guam $18.88/hr $39,270
Tennessee $18.81/hr $39,130
Connecticut $18.5/hr $38,470
New York $17.88/hr $37,190
Idaho $17.58/hr $36,570
Mississippi $17.55/hr $36,510
Kansas $17.32/hr $36,020
Wyoming $16.85/hr $35,050
Arkansas $16.77/hr $34,880
Hawaii $16.28/hr $33,870
Alaska $16.04/hr $33,360
Indiana $15.48/hr $32,200
Ohio $15.41/hr $32,060
Alabama $15.17/hr $31,560
Washington $14.94/hr $31,070
Puerto Rico $14.91/hr $31,000
Oregon $14.84/hr $30,860
North Carolina $14.74/hr $30,660
Kentucky $14.2/hr $29,530
New Mexico $14.2/hr $29,540
Virginia $14.19/hr $29,510
Nevada $13.93/hr $28,970
Maine $13.9/hr $28,900
South Dakota $13.86/hr $28,830
Michigan $13.82/hr $28,730
New Jersey $13.49/hr $28,070
California $13.44/hr $27,950
Maryland $13.43/hr $27,930
Montana $13.28/hr $27,630
Utah $13.22/hr $27,490
Iowa $13.14/hr $27,330
Nebraska $13.05/hr $27,140
District of Columbia $13.05/hr $27,150
South Carolina $12.7/hr $26,420
Massachusetts $12.69/hr $26,400
New Hampshire $12.55/hr $26,110
Wisconsin $12.3/hr $25,590
Louisiana $11.9/hr $24,750
West Virginia $11.04/hr $22,970
Pennsylvania $10.36/hr $21,560


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