Learning and Development Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Learning and Development Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Learning and Development Specialist in the United States is $97,376 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Learning and Development Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $111,053
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $86,100 to $104,535
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,834
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View as table View as graph 25% $86,100 10% $75,834 90% $111,053 75% $104,535 $97,376 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Learning and Development Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $104,535 $8,711 $2,010 $50
Average $97,376 $8,115 $1,873 $47
25th Percentile $86,100 $7,175 $1,656 $41
Check out Learning and Development Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Learning and Development Leader

Improveit Home Remodeling - Columbus, OH

Business Development Specialist

Miller's Textile Services, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Business Development Specialist

Veracity Solutions - Columbus, OH

Account Development Specialist - OEM

Phoenix Contact - Columbus, OH

Search More Learning and Development Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Learning and Development Specialist Salaries

A Learning and Development Specialist'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 Learning and Development Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Learning and Development Specialist'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $58,976
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,295
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,849
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $118,745
  • Expert (over 8 years): $138,721
Levels Salary
Organizat... Level Learning and Development Specialist$58,976
Organizat... Level Learning and Development Specialist$70,295
Learning ... Level Learning and Development Specialist$96,849
Organizat... Level Learning and Development Specialist$118,745
Organizat... Level Learning and Development Specialist$138,721
$58,976 0 yr
$70,295 < 2 yrs
$96,849 2-4 yrs
$118,745 5-8 yrs
$138,721 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Learning and Development Specialists

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: $122,820
  • San Francisco: $121,475
  • Oakland: $118,915

What Skills Can Increase a Learning and Development Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.34% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Change Management (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Change management (sometimes abbreviated as CM) is a collective term for all approaches to prepare , support and help individuals, teams, and organizations in making organizational change. The most common change drivers include: technological evolution, process reviews, crisis, and consumer habit changes; pressure from new business entrants, acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring. It includes methods that redirect or redefine the use of resources, business process, budget allocations, or other modes of operation that significantly change a company or organization. Organizational change management (OCM) considers the full organization and what needs to change, while change management may be used solely to refer to how people and teams are affected by such organizational transition. It deals with many different disciplines, from behavioral and social sciences to information technology and business solutions.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.25% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.34%
Change Management 1.37%
PowerPoint 1.25%
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 Learning and Development Specialist's salary.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Consulting Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting
$105,166
8%
Alignment
$105,166
8%
Consulting Management
$104,192
7%
Agile
$103,218
6%
Analysis
$102,245
5%
Change Management
$102,245
5%
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Learning and Development Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Learning and Development Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Learning and Development Specialist positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Learning and Development Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Learning and Development Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$146,064$70.050%

How Education impacts a Learning and Development Specialist's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Learning and Development Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $97,079 and $103,487).

Learning and Development Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Learning and Development Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 1.8%
Associates 1.4%
Bachelors 23.9%
Masters 61.0%
Doctorate 11.7%
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Learning and Development Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Learning and Development Specialist'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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Learning and Development Specialist

Salaries for a Learning and Development Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $84,781 in 2023 to around $85,009 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Learning and Development Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Learning and Development Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$84,781
2024
$85,226
2025
$85,009
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $84,781
2024 $85,226
2025 $85,009
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Learning and Development Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Learning and Development Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Learning and Development Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Learning and Development Specialist Job

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

United States
  • HungryPanda

    Columbus, OH

    HungryPanda | Columbus, OH

    Business Development - Mandarin SpeakingFounded in 2017, HungryPanda is currently the largest overseas Asian food delivery platform. Starting in Nottingham... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Abbott Laboratories Employees Credit Union

    Columbus, OH

    Abbott Laboratories Employees Credit Union | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. SUMMARY. This position is primarily responsible for spearheading the credit union’s business development initiatives acro... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Rogue

    Columbus, OH

    Rogue | Columbus, OH

    HR Generalist With Specialized Focus On Learning And DevelopmentWe are seeking an experienced HR Generalist with a specialized focus on Learning and Develo... more

    4 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    4 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Alto Health Care Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Alto Health Care Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Position Overview. We are currently seeking experienced and compassionate Registered Nurses (RNs) to join our network of healthcare professionals. As a Reg... more

    4 Days Ago

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FAQ about Learning and Development Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Learning and Development Specialist?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Learning and Development Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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.

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