Training and development managers oversee training staff, assess what employees need to learn, align training with the organization's goals, manage budgets, develop programs, select materials from vendors, keep programs up to date, teach training methods to instructors and supervisors and evaluate how well programs work.
The short answer: low exposure, with growth projected. The ILO's 2025 index rates the closest group, human resource managers, at minimal exposure with a score of 0.36. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 4,100 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed training and development managers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resource Managers | Minimal exposure | 0.36 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for training and development managers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Training and development managers | Grow 6% | About 4,100 |
The BLS says many occupations require continuing education and skill development throughout a career, creating demand for training. It expects innovations in training methods and learning technology to continue, as organizations use social media, visual simulations, mobile learning and social networks to keep training engaging and cost-effective, and says these managers will be needed to integrate those features into programs.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting course outlines, quizzes and training materials for review.
- Summarizing feedback and evaluation results.
- Preparing budget and program reports.
What stays with training and development managers
- Needs assessment: deciding what employees need to learn and why.
- Strategy: aligning training with the organization's goals and budget.
- Vendor choices: reviewing and selecting training materials and tools.
- Checking AI help: generated course content can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS expects continued demand for skill development and new learning technology. Managers who judge which tools and content actually help their staff learn stay central to the role. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace training specialists?, will AI replace HR? and will AI replace instructional coordinators?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for training and development managers at $133,000 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace training and development managers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 6 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,100 openings a year.
How exposed are training and development managers to AI?
The closest ILO group, human resource managers, has minimal exposure with a score of 0.36.
What drives demand?
The BLS points to continuing education and skill development across many occupations, and new training methods and learning technology.
What do training and development managers do?
They assess training needs, develop and update programs, manage budgets and staff, select materials and evaluate results.