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Sector

Careers in Professional Training & EdTech

Corporate training and professional development operates mostly through small firms and independent consultants โ€” less than 1% work at companies with 250+ employees. It's a field where expertise and reputation matter more than institutional affiliation.

147K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$71K
Median salary
Across all roles
Professional Training & EdTech jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Professional Training & EdTech employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ3K
2.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA2K
3.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX1K
4.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN1K
5.Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV1K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT47.7
2.Amherst Town-Northampton, MA47.6
3.Boulder, CO47.5
4.Ithaca, NY47.5
5.San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA46.2
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Professional Training & EdTech

Corporate training draws people who want to help adults learn in professional contexts โ€” there's satisfaction in developing skills that people use immediately and seeing teams improve. Many find meaning in the practical impact of workplace learning.

The challenge can come from proving ROI and organizational priorities. Training budgets are often first to be cut. Learners may be reluctant or too busy. What gets taught depends on business needs, not your interests. Travel can be significant for in-person work.

The field varies by setting and approach. Internal L&D departments operate differently than consulting firms or training vendors. Leadership development differs from technical training or compliance. In-person facilitation is distinct from instructional design or e-learning.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: helping adults grow, variety across organizations and topics, and seeing learning translate to performance. If you enjoy adult learning, can connect training to business outcomes, and like working with professionals, corporate training offers rewarding opportunities.

How people break in

Subject matter expertise combined with presentation skills. Instructional design education helpful. Corporate L&D roles often promote from within.

Work environment tends toward
Digital shiftSubject expertiseCorporate clientsCertification valueConsulting-like
Industries it connects to
Professional ServicesTechnologyHuman ResourcesEducation
Salary vs. national average
0%
$71K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$15K$37K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all professional training & edtech roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$91K
2. Boulder$76K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$74K
4. Trenton-Princeton$69K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$69K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$70K in mid-market metros to ~$103K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $103K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $87K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $80K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $91K adj.
Boulder ยท $76K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $74K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 22.2M
Los Angeles ยท 14.6M
Chicago ยท 10.6M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Professional Training & EdTech.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Education data
15%
People tend to stay in Education. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 7%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
97%
Small
<50
2%
Mid
50โ€“249
0%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Mostly on-site
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Education data
~11%
Moderate union coverage varies by employer and role. Some positions are covered, others aren't.
โ†“ 11%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Professional Training & EdTech

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Business Operations ยท Schools and universities need ops leaders to manage facilities, budgets, and staff. Slower pace, mission-driven culture, strong job security.
12%
$74K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
11%
$65K median
Explore โ†’
Arts & Media ยท Teaching art, music, and media at all levels. Stable positions, summers off, chance to nurture creativity. MFA often required for higher ed.
8%
$75K median
Explore โ†’
Technology ยท EdTech, university IT departments, and learning management systems โ€” supporting educational technology and campus infrastructure.
8%
$72K median
Explore โ†’
Personal Care ยท Cosmetology schools and vocational training. Teaching the next generation, flexible schedules, combine practice with education.
7%
$62K median
Explore โ†’
Education ยท K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Tenure track for academics, admin paths for others. Summers, holidays, and meaningful impact on lives.
7%
$61K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Professional Training & EdTech. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Professional Training & EdTech

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.