📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Training and Development Specialists Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · High Demand
Average
$72,020
per year
Median
$65,880
per year
Hourly
$34.62
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$43,662
25th Percentile — Junior$57,912
50th Percentile — Median$65,880
75th Percentile — Senior$89,975
90th Percentile — Top Earners$102,442
💡 The top 10% of Training and Development Specialistss earn $102,442 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $43,662, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$59.8k
2021
$62.0k
2022
$64.4k
2023
$66.8k
2024
$69.4k
2025
$72.0k
2026
📈 Training and Development Specialists salaries have grown 3.8% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $12,252.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $111,631 | +55.0% | High |
| District of Columbia | $109,470 | +52.0% | High |
| California | $102,268 | +42.0% | High |
| New York | $99,388 | +38.0% | High |
| Alaska | $95,066 | +32.0% | High |
| Massachusetts | $93,626 | +30.0% | High |
| New Jersey | $92,186 | +28.0% | High |
| Washington | $90,025 | +25.0% | High |
| Connecticut | $87,864 | +22.0% | High |
| Maryland | $82,823 | +15.0% | High |
| Rhode Island | $82,823 | +15.0% | High |
| New Hampshire | $82,103 | +14.0% | High |
| Oregon | $80,662 | +12.0% | High |
| Colorado | $79,222 | +10.0% | High |
| Virginia | $79,222 | +10.0% | High |
| Vermont | $77,782 | +8.0% | High |
| Delaware | $75,621 | +5.0% | High |
| Illinois | $75,621 | +5.0% | High |
| Maine | $73,460 | +2.0% | High |
| Nevada | $73,460 | +2.0% | High |
| Minnesota | $72,020 | +0.0% | High |
| Utah | $72,020 | +0.0% | High |
| Arizona | $71,300 | -1.0% | High |
| Pennsylvania | $71,300 | -1.0% | High |
| Florida | $70,580 | -2.0% | High |
| Montana | $68,419 | -5.0% | High |
| Texas | $68,419 | -5.0% | High |
| Georgia | $66,979 | -7.0% | High |
| Idaho | $66,979 | -7.0% | High |
| Wyoming | $66,979 | -7.0% | High |
| North Dakota | $66,258 | -8.0% | High |
| Wisconsin | $66,258 | -8.0% | High |
| North Carolina | $65,538 | -9.0% | High |
| Michigan | $64,818 | -10.0% | High |
| Louisiana | $63,378 | -12.0% | High |
| Nebraska | $63,378 | -12.0% | High |
| New Mexico | $63,378 | -12.0% | High |
| Ohio | $63,378 | -12.0% | High |
| South Carolina | $63,378 | -12.0% | High |
| Tennessee | $63,378 | -12.0% | High |
| Alabama | $62,657 | -13.0% | High |
| Missouri | $62,657 | -13.0% | High |
| South Dakota | $62,657 | -13.0% | High |
| Iowa | $61,937 | -14.0% | High |
| Indiana | $61,217 | -15.0% | High |
| Kansas | $61,217 | -15.0% | High |
| Oklahoma | $60,497 | -16.0% | High |
| Arkansas | $59,777 | -17.0% | High |
| Kentucky | $59,777 | -17.0% | High |
| Mississippi | $57,616 | -20.0% | High |
| West Virginia | $56,176 | -22.0% | High |
What Factors Affect Training and Development Specialists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Training and Development Specialists's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Training and Development Specialistss typically earn $43,662–$57,912 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $89,975–$102,442 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Training and Development Specialists role currently has high demand in the job market with a 3.8% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Business sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Training and Development Specialists?The average salary for a Training and Development Specialists in the United States is $72,020 per year, with a median of $65,880.
-
What is the starting salary for a Training and Development Specialists?Entry-level Training and Development Specialistss typically earn between $43,662 and $57,912 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Training and Development Specialistss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Training and Development Specialistss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Training and Development Specialists make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $72,020, a Training and Development Specialists earns approximately $34.62 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
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Is Training and Development Specialists a good career in 2026?Yes — the Training and Development Specialists role has high demand with 3.8% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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