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The differences between learning design specialists and learning development specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a learning design specialist and a learning development specialist. Additionally, a learning development specialist has an average salary of $73,541, which is higher than the $72,967 average annual salary of a learning design specialist.
The top three skills for a learning design specialist include blended learning, instructional design and subject matter experts. The most important skills for a learning development specialist are training programs, project management, and HR.
| Learning Design Specialist | Learning Development Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $72,967 | $73,541 |
| Hourly rate | $35.08 | $35.36 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 68,913 | 81,817 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A learning design specialist is responsible for creating instructional materials according to the learner's curriculum and evaluate existing educational resources for further improvements needed. Learning design specialists facilitate the development of educational software tools and technology and coordinate with the educators for testing. They also attend conferences and train instructors in utilizing learning materials. A learning design specialist must have excellent communication skills, as well as extensive knowledge of the learning practices, to recommend teaching methods based on the curriculum's standards.
Also called a learning specialist, a learning development specialist is someone who designs, executes, and organizes training programs. Learning development specialists see to it that the programs will help improve the performance of employees and that of organizational productivity. They design, establish, and direct employee discussions, simulations, and exercises. Also, they are the ones who prepare study guides, manuals, and text for employee training. The set of skills necessary for this job include leadership, management skills, communication skills, and attention to detail.
Learning design specialists and learning development specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Learning Design Specialist | Learning Development Specialist | |
| Average salary | $72,967 | $73,541 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $91,000 | Between $49,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Clifford Chance |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Finance |
There are a few differences between a learning design specialist and a learning development specialist in terms of educational background:
| Learning Design Specialist | Learning Development Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between learning design specialists' and learning development specialists' demographics:
| Learning Design Specialist | Learning Development Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.3% Female, 65.7% | Male, 32.7% Female, 67.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |