Training and Development Specialists Salary
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, training and development specialists earn $82,400 at the median, or about $39.62 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $75,680 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 43.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $82K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria sits well above the national pay line for training and development specialists, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 43.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for training and development specialists in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $78K | $75K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $74K | $76K |
| Richmond | $76K | $77K |
| Roanoke | $67K | $71K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level training and development specialists (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $96K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 43.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new training and development specialists typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,395/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 94% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $82K here vs. $69K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for training and development specialists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do training and development specialists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $82,400 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,920, and experienced training and development specialists can clear $136,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,183/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 43.3% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median training and development specialists salary is worth about $75,680 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.