Training and Development Specialist Salary
Training and Development Specialists earn a median $69,280 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations
U.S. median
$69,280
$33.31 per hour
Range
$38,760 – $123,250
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
458,300
across the U.S.
▲5.2%
Pay trend: The median for training and development specialists in the U.S. rose from $65,850 (May 2024) to $69,280 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.8%.
What training and development specialists do
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)
- Openings per year
- 46,000
Employment of training and development specialists is projected to grow 10.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 46,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Training and Development Specialist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$57,568
per year · effective tax rate 16.9%
$4,797Monthly
$2,399Twice a month
$2,214Every 2 weeks
$27.68Hourly
- Federal income tax$6,412
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,005
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$57,568
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,760 | $18.63 | $33,324 |
| 25th percentile | $50,110 | $24.09 | $42,443 |
| Median (50th) | $69,280 | $33.31 | $57,568 |
| 75th percentile | $95,050 | $45.70 | $75,698 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,250 | $59.25 | $95,507 |
Best cities for training and development specialists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $104,770 | $75,660 | $68,518 | 3,310 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $89,550 | $71,828 | $64,633 | 5,120 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $72,390 | $58,548 | $61,327 | 4,350 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $70,060 | $56,973 | $60,659 | 3,010 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $71,710 | $59,278 | $60,447 | 6,060 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $95,050 | $69,852 | $60,419 | 6,310 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $72,800 | $60,045 | $60,356 | 2,690 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,580 | $56,989 | $60,197 | 2,390 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $73,930 | $58,302 | $60,144 | 2,780 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $75,750 | $58,579 | $59,861 | 2,530 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $73,510 | $60,544 | $59,698 | 5,380 |
| 12 | Virginia Beach, VA | $74,470 | $57,752 | $58,966 | 3,280 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $83,800 | $63,813 | $58,941 | 9,360 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $76,710 | $60,440 | $58,935 | 7,980 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $68,390 | $55,844 | $58,555 | 3,440 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $79,000 | $61,639 | $58,270 | 7,660 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $65,850 | $52,673 | $58,261 | 2,430 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $78,220 | $60,506 | $57,908 | 4,360 |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $82,400 | $62,763 | $57,642 | 11,490 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $66,300 | $53,273 | $57,566 | 3,240 |
| 21 | Minneapolis, MN | $78,430 | $60,196 | $57,427 | 6,580 |
| 22 | Nashville, TN | $66,130 | $55,315 | $57,418 | 3,160 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $71,010 | $58,786 | $57,024 | 12,930 |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC | $68,480 | $54,782 | $56,274 | 5,380 |
| 25 | Atlanta, GA | $71,330 | $55,931 | $55,899 | 10,280 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $104,770
- San Francisco, CA — $95,050
- Seattle, WA — $89,550
- Boston, MA — $83,800
- Washington, DC — $82,400
- New York, NY — $79,840
- Denver, CO — $79,000
- Minneapolis, MN — $78,430
- Baltimore, MD — $78,220
- Portland, OR — $77,000
- Philadelphia, PA — $76,710
- Sacramento, CA — $76,180
- Richmond, VA — $75,750
- San Diego, CA — $75,670
- Virginia Beach, VA — $74,470
Training and Development Specialist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $88,570 | +11.7% | $66,634 | $57,260 – $119,780 | 1,590 |
| New Hampshire | $86,050 | +19.9% | $69,366 | $50,790 – $100,580 | — |
| Alaska | $81,860 | +9.1% | $66,419 | $48,130 – $127,140 | 530 |
| Washington | $81,860 | −1.3% | $66,419 | $47,910 – $135,800 | 8,130 |
| District of Columbia | $80,980 | −4.1% | $61,885 | $38,570 – $135,040 | 1,900 |
| Massachusetts | $80,270 | +9.2% | $61,506 | $41,790 – $129,670 | 12,190 |
| Connecticut | $78,080 | −2.0% | $61,040 | $44,030 – $137,040 | 3,650 |
| Vermont | $77,800 | +15.8% | $60,888 | $46,070 – $128,060 | 750 |
| Virginia | $77,690 | +1.9% | $59,832 | $41,870 – $130,180 | 15,570 |
| New Jersey | $77,020 | +0.5% | $60,297 | $36,570 – $133,700 | 9,210 |
| Minnesota | $76,710 | +1.0% | $59,103 | $50,470 – $124,630 | 9,650 |
| Maryland | $76,370 | +4.3% | $59,292 | $39,240 – $128,610 | 9,800 |
| Oregon | $76,360 | +8.6% | $56,697 | $49,500 – $122,980 | 5,190 |
| New York | $76,080 | +3.4% | $58,841 | $40,220 – $133,620 | 27,460 |
| Rhode Island | $75,910 | +4.6% | $60,003 | $46,420 – $151,560 | 1,130 |
| California | $75,790 | +3.9% | $58,312 | $43,320 – $134,270 | 46,530 |
| Colorado | $75,790 | +4.1% | $59,522 | $37,490 – $116,970 | 12,100 |
| Florida | $71,990 | +10.7% | $59,475 | $38,370 – $118,190 | 34,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,350 | +10.4% | $56,834 | $45,040 – $118,270 | 14,780 |
| Wisconsin | $70,770 | +5.6% | $56,246 | $45,780 – $105,650 | 9,360 |
| Wyoming | $69,380 | −16.9% | $57,639 | $41,210 – $128,300 | 550 |
| Illinois | $67,380 | +6.0% | $53,041 | $39,430 – $119,970 | 15,140 |
| Georgia | $67,320 | +7.0% | $53,319 | $40,480 – $120,180 | 16,200 |
| Arizona | $67,140 | +1.7% | $54,593 | $41,500 – $114,180 | — |
| Iowa | $66,110 | +5.9% | $53,439 | $42,370 – $118,070 | 4,670 |
| Nebraska | $65,700 | +1.8% | $52,860 | $46,430 – $104,500 | 3,650 |
| Maine | $65,680 | −2.6% | $51,702 | $48,210 – $112,940 | 1,600 |
| North Carolina | $65,250 | +7.3% | $52,514 | $33,170 – $115,110 | 20,220 |
| West Virginia | $64,960 | +6.0% | $52,179 | $39,970 – $101,080 | 1,710 |
| Ohio | $64,780 | +1.6% | $53,232 | $33,450 – $108,030 | 17,690 |
| Alabama | $64,490 | −1.6% | $51,038 | $39,690 – $114,010 | 3,000 |
| Michigan | $64,350 | +1.3% | $51,401 | $38,550 – $106,250 | 10,640 |
| North Dakota | $63,260 | +2.2% | $53,009 | $47,770 – $98,200 | 670 |
| South Carolina | $63,070 | −1.5% | $50,230 | $38,790 – $116,210 | 6,960 |
| New Mexico | $62,900 | −0.3% | $50,930 | $37,870 – $111,990 | 2,190 |
| Montana | $62,880 | +5.0% | $50,505 | $35,970 – $99,750 | 900 |
| Texas | $62,860 | −0.9% | $52,688 | $33,250 – $113,870 | 46,630 |
| Tennessee | $62,280 | +7.5% | $52,222 | $38,000 – $116,280 | 9,370 |
| Kansas | $62,010 | −4.1% | $49,345 | $41,640 – $107,900 | 5,150 |
| Idaho | $61,720 | +6.9% | $49,609 | $30,720 – $102,600 | 2,430 |
| South Dakota | $61,570 | −1.0% | $51,651 | $44,200 – $86,200 | 520 |
| Kentucky | $61,390 | +4.7% | $49,476 | $38,700 – $103,690 | 6,090 |
| Nevada | $61,350 | +0.6% | $51,475 | $40,510 – $102,610 | 3,440 |
| Indiana | $61,050 | −3.8% | $49,462 | $39,060 – $101,520 | 8,450 |
| Oklahoma | $61,040 | −0.6% | $49,024 | $31,550 – $104,120 | 5,440 |
| Hawaii | $60,960 | −0.7% | $48,059 | $33,470 – $134,220 | 1,200 |
| Utah | $60,900 | +0.6% | $49,339 | $38,000 – $107,390 | 6,140 |
| Missouri | $58,670 | +0.9% | $47,501 | $31,720 – $100,670 | — |
| Louisiana | $58,070 | +1.8% | $47,483 | $39,240 – $105,200 | 3,030 |
| Mississippi | $53,680 | +2.9% | $43,897 | $38,110 – $96,400 | 2,820 |
| Arkansas | $52,290 | +8.2% | $42,368 | $29,490 – $96,950 | 3,880 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | Bachelor's degree | +5.5% |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | Bachelor's degree | +5.8% |
| Buyer and Purchasing Agent | $77,710 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.5% |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $78,240 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -8.7% |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | Bachelor's degree | -3.1% |
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $78,760 | Bachelor's degree | +7.0% |
| Farm Labor Contractor | $58,460 | No formal educational credential | +7.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a training and development specialist make?
The national median salary for training and development specialists is $69,280 a year ($33.31 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,760 and the top 10% earn over $123,250. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays training and development specialists the most?
Delaware has the highest median pay at $88,570. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many training and development specialists are there in the U.S.?
About 458,300 people work as training and development specialists nationwide.
All 40 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Los Angeles, CA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tampa, FL
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC