Training and Development Specialists Salary
In Worcester, MA, training and development specialists earn $72,080 at the median, or about $34.65 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.52), that's roughly $70,308 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,056/month, about 43.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $72K get you in Worcester?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Worcester’s Regional Price Parity (102.52). 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 Worcester
Training and development specialists pay in Worcester tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $69K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,056/month, which is 44.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.52) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for training and development specialists in metros near Worcester, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $84K | $77K |
| Springfield | $70K | $73K |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $63K | $63K |
| Barnstable Town | $61K | $62K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Worcester, MA
Entry-level training and development specialists (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $86K 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 Worcester?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 44.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,056/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Worcester?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new training and development specialists typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,333/month. At HUD’s $2,056/month FMR, rent would take 88% 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 Worcester?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $69K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Worcester compare to the national average for training and development specialists?
Worcester pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.52), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do training and development specialists make in Worcester, MA?
The median is $72,080 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,880, and experienced training and development specialists can clear $124,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Worcester?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,624/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,056/month, which eats 44.5% 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 Worcester?
Worcester has a Regional Price Parity of 102.52 (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 $70,308 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.