Training and Development Specialists Salary
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, training and development specialists earn $74,610 at the median, or about $35.87 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $81,363 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines
Training and development specialists pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for training and development specialists in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $65K | $72K |
| Cedar Rapids | $72K | $81K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $51K | $59K |
| Sioux City | $56K | $65K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level training and development specialists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $83K 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for training and development specialists in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new training and development specialists typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,615/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for training and development specialists?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do training and development specialists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $74,610 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,580, and experienced training and development specialists can clear $126,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,754/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 27.7% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $81,363 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.