ASTD Releases Salary and Compensation Study for Learning & Development Industry

Median salary for L&D professionals is $75K; gender gap in salaries exists.

Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) July 21, 2011

With a median salary of $75,000, learning and development (L&D) professionals are paid relatively well compared to other HR professionals and the general workforce, but pay levels have not increased, on average, in the last four years. Also unchanged is the gender salary gap – men continue to earn more than women in the L&D profession. These are among many findings in the just-released "Salary and Compensation Report"from ASTD and the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp).

The report is the most comprehensive analysis of salary and compensation for L&D professionals and includes detailed analysis of practitioner demographics across industry, tenure, and gender. Based on responses from 1,997 U.S. employees, it includes findings from 40 compensation and benefit data points. ASTD’s last salary survey was conducted in 2007, before the onset of the global economic recession.

The "ASTD Learning and Development Industry Salary & Compensation Report, 2011" contains these key findings

•The median salary for L&D professionals is $75,000, exceeding the average U.S. income of $46,000
•65 percent of L&D practitioners had a pay raise in 2010; 4 percent experienced a pay cut
•8 percent have a bachelors degree or higher
•Differences in experience, education, and L&D specialty drive differences in salaries
•Investment in professional certification can yield a pay premium
•Employees with 10 years of experience see a noticeable salary bump and the biggest salary leap comes after 20 years in the profession
•Gender salary gap findings:
     oMedian salary for men is $80,000-$90,000; for women it is $70,000-$80,000
     oThe proportion of men earning $120,000 or more is twice that of women
     oWomen are not as well represented in higher paying categories of L&D. There is a dearth of women in executive ranks and higher compensated specialties, possessing advanced degrees, or having 20 or more years of experience.

The "ASTD Learning and Development Industry Salary & Compensation Report, 2011" is the definitive salary and compensation report for the L&D industry. A whitepaper about the researchis free to ASTD members. The full reportcan be purchased from the ASTD Store.

About ASTD
ASTD (American Society for Training & Development) is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to the training and development field. In more than 100 countries, ASTD’s members work in organizations of all sizes, in the private and public sectors, as independent consultants, and as suppliers. Members connect locally in 125 U.S. chapters and with 20 international partners. ASTD started in 1943 and in recent years has widened the profession’s focus to align learning and performance to organizational results, and is a sought-after voice on critical public policy issues. For more information, visit http://www.astd.org.

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