Training and Development Specialists Salary
In Virginia, training and development specialists earn $77,690 at the median, or about $37.35 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $81,960 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 32.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Virginia?
About training and development specialists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for training and development specialists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Virginia
Entry-level training and development specialists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Training and Development Specialists salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $77K | -0% | 340 |
| Richmond | $76K | -2% | 2,530 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $74K | -4% | 3,280 |
| Lynchburg | $73K | -7% | 250 |
| Roanoke | $67K | -14% | 430 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $64K | -18% | 190 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $63K | -19% | 120 |
| Winchester | $60K | -22% | 200 |
| Harrisonburg | $56K | -28% | 190 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a training and development specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 33.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new training and development specialists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,512/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Virginia?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $78K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for training and development specialists?
Virginia pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do training and development specialists make in Virginia?
The median is $77,690 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,870, and experienced training and development specialists can clear $130,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,924/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 33.4% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $81,960 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.