Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Training Specialist I Salary in the United States

How much does a Training Specialist I make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Training Specialist I in the United States is $57,573 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Training Specialist I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,632
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,489 to $64,932
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,950
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Training Specialist I Salaries

A Training Specialist I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Training Specialist I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Training Specialist I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Training Specialist I (0-2 years): $57,573
  • Training Specialist II (2-4 years): $70,468
  • Training Specialist III (4-7 years): $86,714
  • Training Specialist IV (7+ years): $111,458
  • Training Manager (7+ years): $99,460
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Training Specialist I0-2 years$57,573
Training Specialist II2-4 years$70,468
Training Specialist III4-7 years$86,714
Training Specialist IV7+ years$111,458
Training Manager7+ years$99,460
View as Graph

How Do Training Specialist I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Training Specialist Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $63,745.
  • California: $63,503.
  • Massachusetts: $62,657.

Top Paying Cities for Training Specialist Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $72,617
  • San Francisco: $71,822
  • Oakland: $70,308

What Skills Can Increase a Training Specialist I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Communication Skills (Mentioned in 5.98% Job Postings): Communication skills are your ability to share or understand information, ideas, and feelings successfully.
  • Onboarding (Mentioned in 2.59% Job Postings): Onboarding, also known as organizational socialization, is management jargon first created in the 1970's that refers to the mechanism through which new employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors in order to become effective organizational members and insiders. It is the process of integrating a new employee into the organization and its culture. Tactics used in this process include formal meetings, lectures, videos, printed materials, or computer-based orientations to introduce newcomers to their new jobs and organizations. Research has demonstrated that these socialization techniques lead to positive outcomes for new employees such as higher job satisfaction, better job performance, greater organizational commitment, and reduction in occupational stress and intent to quit.. These outcomes are particularly important to an organization looking to retain a competitive advantage in an increasingly mobile and globalized workforce. In the United States, for example, up to 25% of workers are organizational newcomers engaged in an onboarding process. The term induction is used instead in regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and parts of Europe. This is known in some parts of the world as training.
  • Guest Service (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Guest services is a division of the hospitality industry. The goal of guest services is to provide customers with an enjoyable experience, primarily in the hotel and spa industry, sports facilities, and event venues.
Skills Demand Percentage
Communication Skills 5.98%
Onboarding 2.59%
Guest Service 1.29%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Training Specialist I's salary.

  • Data Governance: Can increase your salary by up to 57%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Event Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Data Governance $90,390
57%
Project Management $64,482
12%
Event Management $64,482
12%
Get Latest Data

Training Specialist I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Training Specialist I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $64,340. While startup companies pay approximate $54,425.

Training Specialist I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $54,425
Growth Stage 51~500 $57,560
Established 501~5000 $62,129
Enterprise 5000+ $64,340

Training Specialist I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Training Specialist I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 48% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 32% above the average. In contrast, Training Specialist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Training Specialist I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Training Specialist I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$75,996$37.032%
Energy & Utilities$65,633$32.014%
Biotechnology$64,482$31.012%
Financial Services$63,330$30.010%
Pharmaceuticals$63,330$30.010%

How Education impacts a Training Specialist I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Training Specialist I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Training Specialist I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $58,009 and $61,324.

Training Specialist I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Training Specialist I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 12.9%
Associates 8.7%
Bachelors 49.7%
Masters 26.8%
Doctorate 1.4%
View as Graph

Training Specialist I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Training Specialist I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$51,489
Average $57,573/year
$64,932
$4,291
Average $4,798/month
$5,411
$990
Average $1,107/week
$1,249
$25
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,932 $5,411 $1,249 $31
Average $57,573 $4,798 $1,107 $28
25th Percentile $51,489 $4,291 $990 $25

Training Specialist I Salary Growth & Career Path

Training Specialist I

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Training Specialist I, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Training Specialist II $70,468 22%
Training Administrator $70,468 22%

Most common benefits for Training Specialist I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Training Specialist I

Here are companies hiring for Training Specialist I and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Training Specialist I Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Training Specialist I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Training Specialist I

1. Where can a Training Specialist I earn the most?

A Training Specialist I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Training Specialist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Training Specialist I is $72,617.

2. What is the highest pay for Training Specialist I?

The highest pay for Training Specialist I is $71,632.

3. What is the lowest pay for Training Specialist I?

The lowest pay for Training Specialist I is $45,950.

4. What are the responsibilities of Training Specialist I?

Delivers company training programs and workshops to employees and managers. Monitors the effectiveness of training on employees using individual or group performance results. Collects feedback on sessions from attendees to use for future improvements to content and presentation. Contributes to new training program design and existing program enhancements. Assists in the development and creation of lesson plans and training aids. May specialize in a particular subject, training program, or function of the company. Training programs may typically include topics such as supervisory/management training, work skills training, team building, and communications. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Training Specialist I?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Training Specialist I roles, with salaries approximately 32% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst