How Professional Development Can Lead to Salary Raises and Promotions

ByChase Banger

“For the best return on your money, pour your purse into your head.” 

That’s what Benjamin Franklin had to say about the value of learning. And it’s true: There is a clear correlation between learning and earning. While some folks learn for the intrinsic value, everyone could use a little more cash. 

Below are eight statistics that show just how valuable (in some cases, literally dollars and cents) professional development can be for career earnings and promotability.

Professional Development Salary Statistics 

140% 

The relative increase in salary received by those who return to higher education compared to those who don’t return, according to Lightcast.

87%

The share of North American employers who said that continuing education has a positive impact on an employee’s pay scale, according to research from Evolllution.

$11,000 

The increase to annual salary, on average, for Americans working in data and artificial intelligence who took over 100 hours of training, according to data presented by O’Reilly Media. That’s compared to $7,000, on average, for employees who took 1 to 19 hours.

$5,000 

The average amount more that certificate holders earn per year compared to those without, according to the Association for Talent Development.

Professional Development Promotion Statistics

22% 

How much more likely adults who return to school are to achieve upward mobility in their career, according to research from Lightcast.

41% 

The percentage of employees surveyed who believed that they had the skills needed to thrive professionally for the next four years. That number comes from Deloitte research.

50% 

The percentage of the global workforce who are expected to need reskilling by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum.

80% 

The percentage of employers surveyed who said they had a hard time filling open positions because of skills gaps. That’s according to Monster.

Attract and Keep Top Talent With Professional Development

Start building a reputation as a company that supports its staff with engaging professional development. This will not only help attract top talent but also keep them longterm.

Ready to invest in professional development for your employees? Get a demo of SkillsWave today to see how we can help.