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Learning specialist vs workforce development specialist

The differences between learning specialists and workforce 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 specialist and a workforce development specialist. Additionally, a learning specialist has an average salary of $57,035, which is higher than the $43,666 average annual salary of a workforce development specialist.

The top three skills for a learning specialist include customer service, professional development and project management. The most important skills for a workforce development specialist are social services, training programs, and HR.

Learning specialist vs workforce development specialist overview

Learning SpecialistWorkforce Development Specialist
Yearly salary$57,035$43,666
Hourly rate$27.42$20.99
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs38,22980,041
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a learning specialist do?

Learning specialists are highly skilled teachers providing educational support to students who struggle academically at schools. They are responsible for working closely with students and their parents to develop a learning strategy suitable for a student's learning style to improve their grades and academic progress. Other responsibilities of a learning specialist include educating teachers and parents on learning differences, communicating with teachers and parents regularly about a student's progress, and keeping abreast of current teaching methods.

What does a workforce development specialist do?

A workforce development specialist is responsible for designing and conducting training and development programs to significantly improve organizational and individual performance. You will perform a few duties that include evaluating training delivery modes, such as virtual or in-person to optimize training effectiveness and costs, developing, obtaining, or organizing training guides and procedure manuals, and coordinating the placement of trainees. As a workforce development specialist, you also have to choose and assign training instructors and negotiating contracts with clients.

Learning specialist vs workforce development specialist salary

Learning specialists and workforce development specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Learning SpecialistWorkforce Development Specialist
Average salary$57,035$43,666
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $87,000Between $28,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJRoseville, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryInsuranceTransportation

Differences between learning specialist and workforce development specialist education

There are a few differences between a learning specialist and a workforce development specialist in terms of educational background:

Learning SpecialistWorkforce Development Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Learning specialist vs workforce development specialist demographics

Here are the differences between learning specialists' and workforce development specialists' demographics:

Learning SpecialistWorkforce Development Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 32.8% Female, 67.2%Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.3% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 5.8% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between learning specialist and workforce development specialist duties and responsibilities

Learning specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead strategic planning for eLearning initiatives and manage company-wide training for laboratory information system update.
  • Manage the integration of the student information system Jenzabar CX/JICS with Moodle.
  • Lead experiential learning in supervisory skills, conflict management, leadership, team building and organization process effectiveness.
  • Instruct on how to create PowerPoint presentations and debate an argument during an oral defense.
  • Develop individualized education plans for students who receive math intervention services.
  • Tutor and advise undergraduate level courses in introductory statistics and mathematics.
  • Show more

Workforce development specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead advocacy efforts to increase employment opportunities for veterans by contacting hiring executives and encourage the hiring of disable veterans.
  • Work cooperatively with community organizations to provide support and resources to TANF clients.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations for use with public speaking events.
  • Conduct employment verification (I9) and drug tests.
  • Market OJT services to public and private sector employers; prepare contract agreements between employers and employees.
  • Establish and maintain rapport with both prime contractors and their employees that are participating in the OJT program as trainees.
  • Show more

Learning specialist vs workforce development specialist skills

Common learning specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Subject Matter Experts, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Instructional Design, 4%
Common workforce development specialist skills
  • Social Services, 9%
  • Training Programs, 8%
  • HR, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Career Development, 6%
  • Supportive Services, 6%

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