Corporate trainers play a critical role in providing employees quality training that improves their skills and leads to higher levels of productivity. Corporate trainers, also referred to as training and development managers, are key to developing employee engagement, which leads to a more satisfied workforce and better employee retention. 

The job attracts people from many different fields. In some cases, those who work in other departments will decide to learn corporate trainer skills to make the move to becoming a training manager. Those outside an industry also move into this field, including teachers with a desire to leave the classroom and get a job in the corporate world. 

Corporate trainers work in all industries, including healthcare, finance, retail and manufacturing. They also are employed by government agencies and nonprofit organizations. They may also be employed by consulting agencies that specialize in training employees. 

What Does a Corporate Trainer Do? 

Corporate trainers handle the important task of developing and implementing programs that train an organization’s employees, giving them the skills they need to succeed in their jobs. This serves two overall purposes. 

For employees, it makes them feel valued by their company. It also gives them the skills to do their job at a high level, which in turn leads to better engagement in their work. They also get a better sense of how their work fits into the overall operation and gives them a better chance of advancing in an organization. 

For employers, highly skilled workers are more productive. They also are more satisfied with their jobs, leading to a better quality of work product. Further, they are more likely to retain good employees – a key component in success for a company. 

Corporate trainers handle such duties as:  

  • Assessing the need for certain types of training in an organization 
  • Identifying employees who need or want further training in specific areas 
  • Developing training programs that offer the latest knowledge and skills 
  • Working with organizational executives to ensure training aligns with overall business goals 
  • Manage a budget for employee training 
  • Implementing training programs, making changes as needed to improve training courses 
  • Train those who will be instructing employees in training classes 
  • Evaluate whether the training program is having a positive impact on the overall organization 
  • Identify employees who can serve as mentors to other employees 

On a day-to-day basis, training managers oversee a staff of training and development instructors and supervisors. They may evaluate the details of a specific training program, ensuring that the program has the most up-to-date information and the proper tools (such as software and other equipment). 

They may also work on designing new programs, which can be delivered through in-person classes, via social media or through workshops that involve outside consultants. A training manager might hold a class of their own, training instructors. They could also meet with executives to take a larger view of the overall training strategy and how it impacts the staff. 

Corporate Trainer Job Growth & Salary 

Training has become a key element in every organization, both large and small. There also are consulting agencies that specialize in training and development. They are always looking for quality corporate trainers. 

Given that, it’s no surprise that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 7% growth in the number of corporate trainers – they list the job as training and development manager – by 2029. . 

In May 2020, the median salary nationwide for training and development managers was $125,920. By industry, the top-paying salaries according to the BLS were in the following areas:  

  • Professional, scientific and technical services – $135,780 
  • Management of companies and enterprises – $123,020 
  • Finance and insurance – $122,400 
  • Educational services including state, local and private – $102,930 
  • Healthcare and social assistance – $98,470 

How to Become a Corporate Trainer 

The pathway into this field can follow many different courses. Those who aspire to become a corporate trainer can learn how to succeed in the field through  Point Park University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Among the skills students learn are organizational principles, effective communication, and project management. Students also learn how to effectively communicate with adult learners. 

Another path is to earn an MBA. The skills and knowledge gained in an MBA program can prove invaluable for creating training and development programs that fit into the overall business strategy of an organization. The expertise graduates gain in finance, budgeting and analysis also can serve a training manager well.