Mid-Level

Learning Development Specialist

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Career Level
Junior
Mid
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Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
E
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Socialhelping, teaching
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Learning Development Specialists
Employment concentration · ~358 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Learning Development Specialist

Learning development specialists work in L&D functions within organizations, designing, developing, and sometimes facilitating training programs that build employee capability. The role typically involves needs analysis, content development, course production, and evaluation—sometimes also including facilitation.

The performance gap between completing training and changing behavior is a central challenge in L&D. Designing for transfer—creating conditions where learning actually shows up in job performance—requires understanding the work context, manager support, and practice opportunities, not just the learning content itself.

People who tend to do well are curious about how adults learn and develop, and genuinely care about whether their programs produce behavioral change rather than just seat time. If you find the combination of design, development, and facilitation engaging—and can navigate organizational politics around training priorities—learning development specialist careers tend to offer variety, clear demand, and meaningful contribution to organizational performance.

RelationshipsHigh
IndependenceHigh
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Learning Development Specialists (SOC 25-9031.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$47K–$115K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
211K
U.S. Employment
+1.3%
10yr Growth
22K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$72K$69K$67K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Learning StrategiesInstructingWritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
25-9031.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.