Training and Development Specialists Salary
In Illinois, training and development specialists earn $67,380 at the median, or about $32.39 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $71,795 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Illinois?
About training and development specialists
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What this looks like in Illinois
Training and development specialists pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $67K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level training and development specialists (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
Training and Development Specialists salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $77K | +14% | 360 |
| Bloomington | $76K | +12% | 260 |
| Springfield | $70K | +3% | 250 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $67K | -0% | 10,940 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $65K | -4% | 340 |
| Kankakee | $64K | -5% | 110 |
| Rockford | $59K | -13% | 330 |
| Decatur | $37K | -45% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track training and development specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a training and development specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for training and development specialists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new training and development specialists typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,366/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $67K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for training and development specialists?
Illinois pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do training and development specialists make in Illinois?
The median is $67,380 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,430, and experienced training and development specialists can clear $119,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,371/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 32.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a training and development specialists salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $71,795 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.