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The differences between training specialists and instructional designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a training specialist and an instructional designer. Additionally, a training specialist has an average salary of $77,231, which is higher than the $57,534 average annual salary of an instructional designer.
The top three skills for a training specialist include customer service, training programs and training materials. The most important skills for an instructional designer are instructional design, subject matter experts, and project management.
| Training Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $77,231 | $57,534 |
| Hourly rate | $37.13 | $27.66 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 61,581 | 50,321 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
As the name entails, training specialists are the ones who design and perform training programs that will foster employees' workplace performance and align with the core values of an organization. They have varied responsibilities, including identifying employee training needs, preparing teaching plans and developing an annual training program, and turning requirements into training to aid employees in their career development. They are also responsible for implementing training courses, staying up-to-date on the new tools and trends in employee development, and evaluating existing programs periodically.
An instructional designer focuses on devising learning materials and content to aid every students' learning difficulties. These can include videos, books, and presentations. They are primarily responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis to identify the needs of students, crafting learning strategies in collaboration with experts. They are also responsible for developing tools and materials to help assess every students' progress, such as quizzes and examinations. Furthermore, an instructional designer needs to coordinate with all personnel involved with the project to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Training specialists and instructional designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Training Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average salary | $77,231 | $57,534 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $110,000 | Between $41,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dallas, TX | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | CoreLogic | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a training specialist and an instructional designer in terms of educational background:
| Training Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between training specialists' and instructional designers' demographics:
| Training Specialist | Instructional Designer | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 5.5% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 16% |