What are the main factors that influence a Professional Development Specialist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Professional Development Specialist's salary?

A Professional Development Specialist's salary grows with experience: an Professional Development Specialist (0-2 years)earns $67,373, an Organizational Development Specialist II (2-4 years)earns $80,339, an Organizational Development Specialist III (4-7 years)earns $110,633, an Organizational Development Specialist IV (7+ years)earns $135,646, an Organizational Development Specialist V (7-10 years)earns $158,542,

What are the highest paying states for a Professional Development Specialist?

Professional Development Specialist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Professional Development Specialist roles are District of Columbia $66,688, California $66,435, Massachusetts $65,550. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Professional Development Specialist roles make?

Salaries for Professional Development Specialist level roles vary by specialization: Director Of Professional Development: $203,512; Business Development Professional: $170,526; Nursing Professional Development Specialist: $125,235; Professional Development Consultant: $81,554; Professional Development Manager: $78,873.

Professional Development Specialist Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a Professional Development Specialist make in District of Columbia?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Professional Development Specialist in District of Columbia is $66,688 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,688
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,829 to $74,540
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,853

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered Talent

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Professional Development Specialist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,540	$6,212	$1,433	$36
Average	$66,688	$5,557	$1,282	$32
25th Percentile	$56,829	$4,736	$1,093	$27

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Professional Development Specialist Job Openings in District of Columbia

HR Team Lead

Koniag Government Services - Washington, DC

Professional Development October

Society for Chemical Hazard Communication - Washington, DC

Vice President of Conferences&amp Professional Development

KENTUCKY SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES INC - Washington, DC

Professional Practice Specialist

Children's National Medical Center - Washington, DC

Search More Professional Development Specialist Jobs in District of Columbia

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): $67,373
Early Career (1-2 years): $80,339
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,633
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $135,646
Expert (over 8 years): $158,542

Levels	Salary
Professio... Level Professional Development Specialist	$67,373
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist	$80,339
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist	$110,633
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist	$135,646
Organizat... Level Professional Development Specialist	$158,542

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Professional Development Specialist 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 Professional Development Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $66,688.
California: $66,435.
Massachusetts: $65,550.

District of Columbia $66,688 California $66,435 Massachusetts $65,550 Washington $65,309 New Jersey $65,285 Alaska $65,201 Connecticut $64,369 New York $64,032

Hawaii $62,954 Rhode Island $62,448 Maryland $62,105 Minnesota $61,635 Colorado $61,454 Illinois $61,394 Oregon $61,165 Delaware $60,996

New Hampshire $60,890 Virginia $60,653 Pennsylvania $59,960 Nevada $59,611 North Dakota $59,497 Michigan $59,316 Wisconsin $59,250 Vermont $59,117

Texas $58,750 Maine $58,726 Arizona $58,690 Ohio $58,647 Georgia $58,093 Indiana $57,816 Wyoming $57,762 Utah $57,678

Iowa $57,642 Kansas $57,352 Louisiana $57,268 North Carolina $57,238 Missouri $57,226 Florida $56,991 Montana $56,865 Nebraska $56,744

Kentucky $56,678 South Carolina $56,437 Tennessee $56,286 Idaho $56,226 New Mexico $55,786 Oklahoma $55,690 Alabama $55,335 South Dakota $54,738

Arkansas $54,413 West Virginia $54,238 Mississippi $53,714

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:

Parcel Return Service: $66,688
Washington: $66,688
Naval Anacost Annex: $66,688

Parcel Return Service, DC $66,688 Washington, DC $66,688 Naval Anacost Annex, DC $66,688 Washington Navy Yard, DC $66,688

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

$56,829

Average $66,688/year

$74,540

$4,736

Average $5,557/month

$6,212

$1,093

Average $1,282/week

$1,433

$27

Average $32/hour

$36

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$74,540	$6,212	$1,433	$36
Average	$66,688	$5,557	$1,282	$32
25th Percentile	$56,829	$4,736	$1,093	$27

Salaries of jobs related to Professional Development Specialist

Find Your Next Professional Development Specialist Job

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.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

Cost of Living In District of Columbia

Cost of Living in District of Columbia is

10.7% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine 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