Learning and Development Specialist Salary and Career Guide

Key takeaways

Learning and development (L&D) specialists create, facilitate, and assess the effectiveness of organizational training programs.

• A learning and development specialist salary can range from $65,850 to $76,765, depending on location, experience level, and additional compensation options [1, 2].

• States such as New Jersey, California, and Washington DC, along with industries like finance, technology, manufacturing, and health care, tend to offer higher salaries to learning and development specialists.

• You can become a learning and development specialist by earning a degree, gaining experience in a related role, and pursuing certification.

Discover what you can expect from this role, details about the average learning and development specialist salary range, and factors that may affect your earnings. If you're to start working toward a career in learning and development, enroll in the HRCI Human Resource Associate Professional Certificate program, where you can build skills in developing training materials, regulatory compliance, and talent acquisition.

What does a learning and development specialist do?

A learning and development specialist creates, facilitates, and assesses the effectiveness of organizational training programs. This may include designing and creating training materials or evaluating the quality of existing materials. In other situations, you might research and choose materials instead of creating your own. As a learning and development specialist, you will also handle the administrative responsibilities of training programs, such as scheduling sessions and setting up equipment. 

Read more: L&D: What Is Learning and Development?

Learning and development specialist salary average

According to the BLS, the median salary for training and development specialists is $65,850 [1]. When comparing that figure to data from other career and salary aggregators, you’ll see that the average learning and development specialist salary ranges from approximately $65,850 to $76,765 in the United States. The specific estimates are current as of January 2026 and break down as follows [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]:

It’s important to remember that the exact amount you can expect to earn in this career will vary depending on various factors, such as where you live and your level of experience. 

How much do learning and development specialists make in the US? Factors that affect salary

Determining how much you can earn as a learning and development specialist will require you to take a closer look at factors such as your geographic location, your level of education, how long you’ve worked in the field, and even which company you work for. 

Explore how these criteria impact learning and development specialist salaries below. 

Location

The average salary for a learning and development specialist varies depending on where you plan to work and live. For example, New Jersey is the highest-paying state with salaries averaging $100,039, while Alaska is the lowest-paying state at $44,131 [3].

Highest-paying states 

According to Zippia, the 10 highest-paying states on average for learning and development specialists are [3]: 

1. New Jersey: $100,039

2. California: $92,344

3. Washington, DC: $85,685

4. Washington: $83,315

5. North Carolina: $81,025

6. New York: $78,360

7. Pennsylvania: $77,678

8. Virginia: $77,133

9. Maryland: $72,923

10. Nevada: $72,745

Lowest-paying states

According to Zippia, here are the lowest-paying states for a learning and development specialist [3]:

1. Alaska: $44,131

2. West Virginia: $47,957

3. Kentucky: $52,051

4. Vermont: $52,168

5. Hawaii: $53,006

6. Idaho: $53,406

7. Oklahoma: $53,977

8. Arkansas: $54,293

9. Nebraska: $54,774

10. Wisconsin: $54,774

Highest-paying cities

Even within states, you’ll find that the average salaries can fluctuate by city. According to Zippia, the highest-paying cities for learning and development specialists are [3]:

1. San Francisco, California: $98,067

2. Washington, DC: $85,815 

3. Seattle, Washington: $83,716

4. Raleigh, North Carolina: $82,270

5. New York, New York: $79,020

6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: $78,091

7. Richmond, Virginia: $77,063

8. Baltimore, Maryland: $72,944

9. Houston, Texas: $72,505

10. Atlanta, Georgia: $67,668

Industry 

Learning and development specialists work in several industries. According to Zippia, here are the top four industries with the highest average salaries for learning and development specialists [3].

• Finance: $77,736

• Technology: $74,896

• Manufacturing: $62,214

• Health care: $57,050

Experience

Another factor to consider is your experience in the field. For example, the average learning and development specialist entry-level salary ranges from $41,747 to $78,000, while a senior-level professional can earn $72,523 to $103,000 [2, 3, 4]. It is important to note that when using salary-aggregation websites, some, such as Glassdoor and Payscale, provide total pay figures that typically include both base salary and additional pay, such as profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, and other forms of compensation. 

Below, you will find more details about how Glassdoor, Zippia, and Payscale break down these figures:

Highest-paying companies for training and development specialists

The company you work for can also impact how much money you can expect to earn. A few examples of how the estimated average base pay of a learning and development specialist fluctuates from company to company, according to Zippia, include the following [3]:

• Clifford Chance: $161,597

• Cornerstone Research: $142,089

• Google: $136,623

• PayPal: $136,234

• Microsoft: $132,529

• Cambridge Associates: $123,270

• First Republic Banks: $118,631

• Bloomberg: $112,705

Job outlook for training and development specialists

According to the BLS, training and development specialist positions should grow by 11 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average compared to all industries [1]. One of the reasons that training and development specialist jobs are growing is that many employees are required to take ongoing education to keep their credentials or certifications, fueling the need for professionals to lead these training sessions. New technology and media also contribute to the need for more professionals in this field. 

Training and development positions 

If you have the skill set to become a learning and development specialist, you may also qualify for similar professional titles, such as corporate trainer, development coordinator, or workforce development specialist. 

Corporate trainer

Median total salary in the US (Glassdoor): $69,000 [6]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 11 percent [1]

Education requirements: Corporate trainers typically need at least a bachelor's degree, though some employers prefer you to have a master's degree.

As a corporate trainer, your primary responsibility will be to teach new skills to the workforce. This may include training new employees, scheduling company-wide training programs, and developing training programs to monitor employee performance. 

Development coordinator

Median total salary in the US (Glassdoor): $67,000 [7]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 11 percent [1]

Education requirements: A development coordinator usually needs a bachelor's degree in business, psychology, or communication. 

As a development coordinator, you will work with nonprofits and other organizations to create fundraising plans, organize events, and create brand awareness. You may also write grant proposals, seek new donors, and do what it takes to help your employer reach its fundraising goals.

Workforce development specialist 

Median total salary in the US (Glassdoor): $69,000 [8]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 11 percent [1]

Education requirements: A workforce development specialist typically needs a bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field. 

As a workforce development specialist, you will design and facilitate training sessions, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of current training materials and procedures. You may oversee a staff of training instructors. In this role, you may also assist with onboarding and training new hires.

What is a learning and development manager salary?

As a learning and development manager, you can expect to make an annual median salary of $130,000, which includes base pay and additional pay such as cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing [9]. 

* Glassdoor total pay includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

How do I become an L&D specialist? 

The first step to becoming a learning and development specialist is to complete your formal education. A bachelor’s degree is typically the requirement to begin in the field, with 67 percent of learning and development specialists holding one [10]. Roughly 20 percent hold master’s degrees, while 8 percent hold associate degrees [10]. Common areas of study include business, psychology, communication, and human resource management. 

In addition to your education, it typically takes about two years of experience in a related role, such as a training specialist or a training manager. You may also consider earning a specialization or certification to further your skills and demonstrate your capabilities to potential employers. Some of the credentials you might consider include: 

• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): Expert certification

• Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)

• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

Stay current with salary trends

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