Training and Development Specialist Salary in Chicago, IL
Training and Development Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $67,050 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,825 take-home, or $4,402 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median training and development specialist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,921
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,157
- Medicare (1.45%)$972
- Illinois income tax$3,174
- Take-home pay$52,825
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Training and Development Specialist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,430 | $18.96 | $32,055 | $2,671 |
| 25th percentile | $48,590 | $23.36 | $38,962 | $3,247 |
| Median (50th) | $67,050 | $32.24 | $52,825 | $4,402 |
| 75th percentile | $96,170 | $46.24 | $71,870 | $5,989 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,110 | $59.67 | $90,097 | $7,508 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $67,050 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median training and development specialist's $52,825 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,992 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Training and Development Specialist jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for training and development specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #37 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $104,770 | $75,660 | $68,518 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $89,550 | $71,828 | $64,633 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $72,390 | $58,548 | $61,327 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $70,060 | $56,973 | $60,659 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $71,710 | $59,278 | $60,447 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $95,050 | $69,852 | $60,419 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $72,800 | $60,045 | $60,356 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,580 | $56,989 | $60,197 |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $67,050 | $52,825 | $50,992 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
About the job: training and development specialists
Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness. Flight instructors are included with "Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers" (53-2010).
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +10.8% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a training and development specialist make in Chicago, IL?
The median training and development specialist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $67,050 a year, or about $32.24 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,590 and $96,170.
What is a training and development specialist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $67,050 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $52,825 a year ($4,402 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,174 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a training and development specialist?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $69,280. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,992 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #37 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a training and development specialist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median training and development specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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