Learning & Development Manager: career path and pay in the US
Where a Learning & Development Manager goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Learning & Development Manager to Director of Learning & Development / Chief Learning Officer.
Also for the United Kingdom: Learning & Development Manager in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 5 to 8 years
Learning & Development Manager
$85K to $125K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: ATD - US, CPTD (optional) - US, CIPD Level 5 - UK/EU.
Step 2 · 8 to 12 years
Learning & Development Manager / Senior L&D Manager
$110K to $165K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: ATD - US, CPTD - US, CIPD Level 7 - UK/EU, MBA (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 12+ years
Director of Learning & Development / Chief Learning Officer
$145K to $220K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: CPTD - US, SHRM-SCP - US, CIPD Level 7 - UK/EU, MBA (preferred) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$85K to $125K → $145K to $220K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US.
What the work involves
Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.
Skills that matter most
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Customer and Personal Service
- Communications and Media
Education people bring
- Bachelor's Degree: 71%
- Master's Degree: 21%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate: 7%
Job Zone 4, job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Other paths from here
- Training & Development Specialist
- HR Director
- Organizational Development Manager
- Chief Learning Officer
More HR paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Training and Development Specialists, Instructional Coordinators, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, Management Analysts, Project Management Specialists.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.