Professional Development Specialist Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Professional Development Specialist in the United States is $60,232 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,779
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,327 to $67,323
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,220
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View as table View as graph 25% $51,327 10% $43,220 90% $73,779 75% $67,323 $60,232 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Professional Development Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $67,323 $5,610 $1,295 $32
Average $60,232 $5,019 $1,158 $29
25th Percentile $51,327 $4,277 $987 $25
Check out Professional Development Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Youth Development Specialist

KLAMATH BASIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - KLAMATH FALLS, OR

Spark Site Director Trainee position Full Benefit Package Professional Development

Millard Public Schools Foundation, Inc. - OMAHA, NE

Web Development Specialist

Bowhead / UIC Technical Services - DAHLGREN, VA

Business Development Specialist

JANUS Research Group, LLC - ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD

Search More Professional Development Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Professional Development Specialist Salaries

A Professional 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Professional Development Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Professional 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): $60,850
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,560
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $99,921
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $122,513
  • Expert (over 8 years): $143,192
Levels Salary
Professio... Level Professional Development Specialist$60,850
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist$72,560
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist$99,921
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist$122,513
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist$143,192
$60,850 0 yr
$72,560 < 2 yrs
$99,921 2-4 yrs
$122,513 5-8 yrs
$143,192 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Professional 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: $75,970
  • San Francisco: $75,223
  • Oakland: $73,555

What Skills Can Increase a Professional Development Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.04% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Social Work (Mentioned in 2.4% Job Postings): Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning is the way in which people perform their social roles, and the structural institutions that are provided[by whom?] to sustain them. Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems; and to bring about social change. Social work practice is often divided[by whom?] into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups; and macro-work, which involves working with communities, and - within social policy - fostering change on a larger scale.
  • Special Education (Mentioned in 1.15% Job Postings): Special education is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual differences, disabilities, and special needs.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.04%
Social Work 2.4%
Special Education 1.15%
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 Professional Development Specialist's salary.
  • CRM: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CRM
$74,687
24%
Accountability
$72,278
20%
Commitment
$67,459
12%
Economics
$66,857
11%
Financial Services
$66,857
11%
Onboarding
$65,652
9%
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Professional Development Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Professional 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Professional Development Specialist

Salaries for a Professional Development Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $58,549 in 2023 to around $58,372 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Professional Development Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Professional Development Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$58,549
2024
$58,593
2025
$58,372
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $58,549
2024 $58,593
2025 $58,372
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Professional Development Specialist

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

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

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

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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.)

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