Training and Development Specialists Salary
In Iowa, training and development specialists earn $66,110 at the median, or about $31.79 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $74,398 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Iowa?
About training and development specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa
Training and development specialists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 24.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level training and development specialists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Training and Development Specialists salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $75K | +13% | 1,580 |
| Dubuque | $73K | +10% | 180 |
| Cedar Rapids | $72K | +9% | 460 |
| Ames | $68K | +3% | 170 |
| Iowa City | $65K | -2% | 210 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $65K | -2% | 480 |
| Sioux City | $56K | -16% | 210 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $51K | -22% | 350 |
Compare to other states
Track training and development specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a training and development specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 24.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for training and development specialists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new training and development specialists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,542/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for training and development specialists?
Iowa pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do training and development specialists make in Iowa?
The median is $66,110 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,370, and experienced training and development specialists can clear $118,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,296/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 24.8% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $74,398 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.