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What is a training development director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Gregory Zobel Ph.D.

The training development director heads the training and development department. He/She identifies the company's training and development needs and coordinates training and development programs accordingly. You are responsible for the creation, implementation, and review of all programs targeted towards training and development. Your job description includes the development of training materials, conducting skills assessments for staff, establishing timelines and guidelines for goals, facilitating interdepartmental activities, and training to promote teamwork. Training development directors sometimes work as consultants for private organizations.

Most Training Development directors hold master's degrees. However, the minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree in business, education, psychology, or other related fields. You must also have experience in professional development. Apart from this, you must possess good project management skills, human resources, leadership skills, organizational skills, and excellent communication skills. Those in this field make an average of $101000 a year, which is about $48.99 per hour.

What general advice would you give to a training development director?

Gregory Zobel Ph.D.Gregory Zobel Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Educational Technology, Education & Leadership, Western Oregon University

Pay attention to your relationships with people and networking. Learning how to build solid, professional working relationships will not only make your work-life flow more smoothly; those relationships may potentially benefit you in the future. Whether you learn about great professional development opportunities, new job openings, emerging technologies, or ways to increase your market value or efficiency, people are the best resource we have for growth. Additionally, being a kind, professional person who gets their work done makes you an invaluable team member, no matter where your work. Frankly, being the right person who is alert to their co-workers and colleagues can help you avoid workplace drama.
ScoreTraining Development DirectorUS Average
Salary
6.1

Avg. Salary $78,066

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.1

Growth rate 7%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.50%

Asian 4.20%

Black or African American 11.57%

Hispanic or Latino 15.66%

Unknown 5.47%

White 62.60%

Gender

female 47.45%

male 52.55%

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
6.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.2

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Training development director career paths

Key steps to become a training development director

  1. Explore training development director education requirements

    Most common training development director degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.3 %

    Master's

    19.6 %

    Associate

    7.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific training development director skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management5.62%
    Human Resources5.48%
    Professional Development5.34%
    Training Development5.05%
    Training Curriculum4.60%
  3. Complete relevant training development director training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New training development directors 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 training development director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real training development director resumes.
  4. Research training development director duties and responsibilities

    • Manage instructional design and facilitation teams to create exceptional instructor-le and eLearning interventions.
    • Extend product revenue by delivering new products for managing configuration of Linux platforms.
    • Provide a comprehensive training approach including eLearning and classroom-base training.
    • Develop and market management training programs and leadership initiatives base on ongoing assessments of enterprise-wide needs and client consultations.
  5. Get training development director experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a training development director. The most common roles before becoming a training development director include training manager, director of training team lead and human resources manager.
  6. Prepare your training development director resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your training development director 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 training development director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable training development director resume templates

    Build a professional training development director 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 training development director resume.
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
    Training Development Director Resume
  7. Apply for training development director jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a training development director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first training development director job

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Average training development director salary

The average training development director salary in the United States is $78,066 per year or $38 per hour. Training development director salaries range between $42,000 and $143,000 per year.

Average training development director salary
$78,066 Yearly
$37.53 hourly

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Training development director reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

Skills that are helpful in this field include change management, an understanding of HR processes, talent development, and many others.


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A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Engaging people Change the organization See Organization grow See positive results

Cons

Working long hours


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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