Training and Development Specialist Salary in Denver, CO
Training and Development Specialists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $79,000 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,639 take-home, or $5,137 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median training and development specialist salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,550
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,898
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,146
- Colorado income tax$2,768
- Take-home pay$61,639
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Training and Development Specialist pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,050 | $18.29 | $31,787 | $2,649 |
| 25th percentile | $53,160 | $25.56 | $43,263 | $3,605 |
| Median (50th) | $79,000 | $37.98 | $61,639 | $5,137 |
| 75th percentile | $102,540 | $49.30 | $77,164 | $6,430 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,630 | $57.51 | $88,434 | $7,370 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,000 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median training and development specialist's $61,639 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,270 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.6× the national concentration of training and development specialist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for training and development specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $79,000 | $61,639 | $58,270 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median training and development specialist salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $79,000 a year, or about $37.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $53,160 and $102,540.
What is a training and development specialist’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $79,000 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $61,639 a year ($5,137 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,768 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a training and development specialist?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $69,280. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,270 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #16 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a training and development specialist afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median training and development specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Project Management Specialist — $116,740
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $104,480
- Management Analyst — $102,620
- Accountant and Auditor — $100,020
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $99,040
- Personal Financial Advisor — $98,740
- Logistician — $97,290
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $94,990
- Cost Estimator — $89,820
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $88,090
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $87,920
- Compliance Officer — $83,580