Training and Development Specialists Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Training and Development Specialists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$69,280
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$33.31
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$123,250
entry level starts ~$38,760
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 458,000 employed

How much do Training and Development Specialists make?

The median pay for Training and Development Specialists in the United States is $69,280 per year — about $33.31 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $38,760, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $123,250.

That is $7,890 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Training and Development Specialists salary range by percentile

Half of all Training and Development Specialists earn between $50,110 and $95,050 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$38,760$18.63
25th percentile (early career)$50,110$24.09
50th percentile (median)$69,280$33.31
75th percentile (experienced)$95,050$45.70
90th percentile (top earners)$123,250$59.25

Highest-paying states for Training and Development Specialists

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Delaware leads the country for Training and Development Specialists pay at $88,570 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($86,050) and Alaska ($81,860). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $52,290 — a gap of $36,280 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Delaware$88,570$42.58+28%
2New Hampshire$86,050$41.37+24%
3Alaska$81,860$39.36+18%
4Washington$81,860$39.36+18%
5District of Columbia$80,980$38.93+17%

Workforce and education

About 458,000 people work as Training and Development Specialists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $75,550 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Training and Development Specialists make in the United States?
The median Training and Development Specialists salary in the United States is $69,280 per year, or about $33.31 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,760, while the top 10% of earners make $123,250 or more.
How does Training and Development Specialists pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Training and Development Specialists median of $69,280 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Training and Development Specialists the most?
Delaware is the highest-paying state for Training and Development Specialists, with a median salary of $88,570 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Training and Development Specialists need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Training and Development Specialists work in the United States?
About 458,000 people were employed as Training and Development Specialists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.