New ATD Research: 2019 Talent Development Salary and Benefits Report

Training field projected to grow; outlook good for compensation.

More than 75 percent of talent development professionals received a raise in the last year, and the median base salary for practitioners was $82,350 in 2018 according to new research from the Association for Talent Development (ATD).

The report noted that in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the training field is expected to increase through 2026, and that growth is expected to be above the average rate of 7 percent for all occupations. In other words, it appears to be a good time to be in the talent development profession.

ATD updates its research on salary and compensation every two years. The research serves as a benchmark for organizations.

Key findings in the 2019 report include:

· Eighty-seven percent of talent development professionals have a bachelor’s or higher degree. Forty-four percent have a master’s degree and 5 percent have a doctoral or professional degree.

· Forty-three percent of respondents held at least one credential or certification.

· Two-thirds of respondents have more than five years of experience in the field.

· Eighty-five percent of TD professionals experienced a job-title change in the last five years.

· The median base salary for 2018 was $82,350; the median total compensation was $86,044.

· More employers are offering paid maternity and paternity leave and flexible scheduling compared with findings from the 2017 report.

The profile is based on data gathered from 1,911 individuals employed in the United States who work full-time in talent development.

To access the full research report, visit www.td.org/research.