How do I become a learning and development specialist?

To become a learning and development specialist, you'll need the right educational background, identify any transferable skills, develop your presentation and teaching skills, and look into earning optional certification(s).

How much does a professional development specialist make?

A professional development specialist makes, on average, $55,220 ($27 an hour). The range in pay for a professional development specialist starts from as little as $28,000 to as much as $80,000 a year. Factors such as location and company type impact how much they can earn.

What degree do you need to become a child development specialist?

The degree you need to become a child development specialist is a four-year bachelor's degree in Applied Psychology with a concentration in Child Advocacy. Some child development specialists earn master's degrees or even doctorate degrees, which may be required for more advanced positions.

What is a development specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Jaunelle Celaire

A development specialist helps organizations achieve their goals by identifying and implementing strategies to support growth. They work with stakeholders to develop plans that meet organizational objectives, as well as identify opportunities for improvement. A development specialist conducts research, analyzes data, and evaluates programs. They also collaborate with project managers and others to implement initiatives and monitor progress. Development specialists may work in a variety of industries, including non-profit organizations, government agencies, and private companies.

What general advice would you give to a development specialist?

Jaunelle Celaire

Chair, Professor of Voice, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.

ScoreDevelopment SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.7

Avg. Salary $60,344

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.5

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 5.81%

Black or African American 10.41%

Hispanic or Latino 16.68%

Unknown 6.28%

White 60.31%

Gender

female 59.47%

male 40.53%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a development specialist?

Pros

Often flexible work hours and remote work options
Potential for high job satisfaction and personal fulfillment
Possibility of career advancement and higher salaries
Collaboration with like-minded individuals
Variety of project types and challenges

Cons

Limited resources and funding for projects
Difficulties in measuring the impact of work
Long hours and irregular schedules during project phases
High competition for job opportunities
Risk of burnout due to the intensity of the work

Key steps to become a development specialist

Explore development specialist education requirements

Most common development specialist degrees

Bachelor's

66.2 %

Master's

15.0 %

Associate

11.5 %

Start to develop specific development specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	7.91%
Customer Satisfaction	7.10%
Professional Development	6.03%
Patients	5.84%
Excellent Interpersonal	4.75%

Complete relevant development specialist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New development specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a development specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real development specialist resumes.

Research development specialist duties and responsibilities

Manage RFP and contracting process.
Manage a comprehensive caseload and keep accurate count of individuals enroll in WIA program.
Manage complex USDA management information system records for portfolio properties.
Manage alumni and corporate relations and activities and continuous learning education initiatives.

Prepare your development specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your development specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a development specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable development specialist resume templates

Build a professional development specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your development specialist resume.