Training and Development Specialists Salary
In Charleston, WV, training and development specialists earn $63,560 at the median, or about $30.56 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.72), which stretches that salary to about $71,641 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,036/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $64K get you in Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (88.72). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About training and development specialists
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What this looks like in Charleston
Training and development specialists pay in Charleston tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,036/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.72 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for training and development specialists in metros near Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Ashland | $59K | $66K |
| Morgantown | $70K | $75K |
| Wheeling | $53K | $60K |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $77K | $86K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston, WV
Entry-level training and development specialists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Training and Development Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Training and Development Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $89K | +28% | 1,590 |
| New Hampshire | $86K | +24% | N/A |
| Washington | $82K | +18% | 8,130 |
| Alaska | $82K | +18% | 530 |
| District of Columbia | $81K | +17% | 1,900 |
| Massachusetts | $80K | +16% | 12,190 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +13% | 3,650 |
| Vermont | $78K | +12% | 750 |
| Virginia | $78K | +12% | 15,570 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +11% | 9,210 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +11% | 9,650 |
| Maryland | $76K | +10% | 9,800 |
| Oregon | $76K | +10% | 5,190 |
| New York | $76K | +10% | 27,460 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | +10% | 1,130 |
| Colorado | $76K | +9% | 12,100 |
| California | $76K | +9% | 46,530 |
| Florida | $72K | +4% | 34,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $71K | +3% | 14,780 |
| Wisconsin | $71K | +2% | 9,360 |
| Wyoming | $69K | +0% | 550 |
| Illinois | $67K | -3% | 15,140 |
| Georgia | $67K | -3% | 16,200 |
| Arizona | $67K | -3% | N/A |
| Iowa | $66K | -5% | 4,670 |
| Nebraska | $66K | -5% | 3,650 |
| Maine | $66K | -5% | 1,600 |
| North Carolina | $65K | -6% | 20,220 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -6% | 1,710 |
| Ohio | $65K | -6% | 17,690 |
| Alabama | $64K | -7% | 3,000 |
| Michigan | $64K | -7% | 10,640 |
| North Dakota | $63K | -9% | 670 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -9% | 6,960 |
| New Mexico | $63K | -9% | 2,190 |
| Montana | $63K | -9% | 900 |
| Texas | $63K | -9% | 46,630 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -10% | 9,370 |
| Kansas | $62K | -10% | 5,150 |
| Idaho | $62K | -11% | 2,430 |
| South Dakota | $62K | -11% | 520 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -11% | 6,090 |
| Nevada | $61K | -11% | 3,440 |
| Indiana | $61K | -12% | 8,450 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -12% | 5,440 |
| Hawaii | $61K | -12% | 1,200 |
| Utah | $61K | -12% | 6,140 |
| Missouri | $59K | -15% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $58K | -16% | 3,030 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -23% | 2,820 |
| Arkansas | $52K | -25% | 3,880 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track training and development specialists salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a training and development specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,036/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for training and development specialists in Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new training and development specialists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,390/month. At HUD’s $1,036/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is training and development specialist a high-paying job in Charleston?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Charleston compare to the national average for training and development specialists?
Charleston pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.72), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do training and development specialists make in Charleston, WV?
The median is $63,560 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,840, and experienced training and development specialists can clear $92,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,228/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,036/month, which eats 24.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a training and development specialists salary go in Charleston?
Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 88.72 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median training and development specialists salary is worth about $71,641 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do training and development specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.