Training and Development Specialists salary in the U.S.
Training and Development Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $69,280 a year ($33.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 458,300 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,250 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $75,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for training and development specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| 25th percentile | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Median | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| 75th percentile | $95,050 | $45.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,250 | $59.26 |
| Average (mean) | $75,550 | $36.32 |
Half of training and development specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,773.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,886.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,664.62 |
| Weekly | $1,332.31 |
| Hourly | $33.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Training and Development Specialists salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $88,570 | 1,590 |
| New Hampshire | $86,050 | n/a |
| Alaska | $81,860 | 530 |
| Washington | $81,860 | 8,130 |
| District of Columbia | $80,980 | 1,900 |
| Massachusetts | $80,270 | 12,190 |
| Connecticut | $78,080 | 3,650 |
| Vermont | $77,800 | 750 |
| Virginia | $77,690 | 15,570 |
| New Jersey | $77,020 | 9,210 |
| Minnesota | $76,710 | 9,650 |
| Maryland | $76,370 | 9,800 |
| Oregon | $76,360 | 5,190 |
| New York | $76,080 | 27,460 |
| Rhode Island | $75,910 | 1,130 |
| California | $75,790 | 46,530 |
| Colorado | $75,790 | 12,100 |
| Florida | $71,990 | 34,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,350 | 14,780 |
| Wisconsin | $70,770 | 9,360 |
| Wyoming | $69,380 | 550 |
| Illinois | $67,380 | 15,140 |
| Georgia | $67,320 | 16,200 |
| Arizona | $67,140 | n/a |
| Iowa | $66,110 | 4,670 |
| Nebraska | $65,700 | 3,650 |
| Maine | $65,680 | 1,600 |
| North Carolina | $65,250 | 20,220 |
| West Virginia | $64,960 | 1,710 |
| Ohio | $64,780 | 17,690 |
| Alabama | $64,490 | 3,000 |
| Michigan | $64,350 | 10,640 |
| North Dakota | $63,260 | 670 |
| South Carolina | $63,070 | 6,960 |
| New Mexico | $62,900 | 2,190 |
| Montana | $62,880 | 900 |
| Texas | $62,860 | 46,630 |
| Tennessee | $62,280 | 9,370 |
| Kansas | $62,010 | 5,150 |
| Idaho | $61,720 | 2,430 |
| South Dakota | $61,570 | 520 |
| Kentucky | $61,390 | 6,090 |
| Nevada | $61,350 | 3,440 |
| Indiana | $61,050 | 8,450 |
| Oklahoma | $61,040 | 5,440 |
| Hawaii | $60,960 | 1,200 |
| Utah | $60,900 | 6,140 |
| Missouri | $58,670 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $58,070 | 3,030 |
| Mississippi | $53,680 | 2,820 |
| Arkansas | $52,290 | 3,880 |
| Virgin Islands | $50,430 | 40 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,820 | n/a |
| Guam | $42,950 | 50 |
Best-paying metro areas for training and development specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dothan, AL | $120,020 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $104,770 | 3,310 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $98,280 | 330 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95,050 | 6,310 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $94,440 | 220 |
| Casper, WY | $94,070 | 100 |
| Decatur, AL | $93,230 | 110 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $89,550 | 5,120 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $88,880 | 620 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $85,610 | n/a |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $85,320 | 320 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $84,500 | 400 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83,800 | 9,360 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $82,590 | 120 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,400 | 11,490 |
Metro areas with the most training and development specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 22,190 | $79,840 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 15,030 | $71,990 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 12,930 | $71,010 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 11,490 | $82,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 10,940 | $67,050 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 10,280 | $71,330 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 9,910 | $66,710 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 9,630 | $62,630 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 9,360 | $83,800 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,980 | $76,710 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 7,660 | $79,000 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,580 | $78,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 6,310 | $95,050 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 6,060 | $71,710 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 5,510 | $64,010 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1151. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a training and development specialists make in the U.S.?
The median salary for training and development specialists in the U.S. is $69,280 a year, or $33.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $123,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid training and development specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of training and development specialists in the U.S. earn at least $123,250 a year. The top 25% earn $95,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for training and development specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,760 a year, and a quarter of training and development specialists earn $50,110 or less.
How many training and development specialists work in the U.S.?
About 458,300 training and development specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.