Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Workforce Development Specialist in California is $63,778 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, a Workforce Development Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
Workforce Development Specialist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $71,989 | $5,999 | $1,384 | $35 |
| Average | $63,778 | $5,315 | $1,226 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,101 | $4,758 | $1,098 | $27 |
San Bernardino County - Yucca Valley, CA
Goodwill of Sacramento Valley & Northern NV - Redding, CA
CSU Fresno Foundation - Berkeley, CA
State Of California - Visalia, CA
A Workforce 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Workforce 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Workforce... Level Workforce Development Specialist | $63,174 |
| Training ... Level Workforce Development Specialist | $77,326 |
| Training ... Level Workforce Development Specialist | $95,151 |
| Training ... Level Workforce Development Specialist | $122,296 |
| Training ... Level Workforce Development Specialist | $109,139 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Workforce Development Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Workforce Development Specialist 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, Workforce Development Specialist positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Workforce Development Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Networking | $84,187 | $40.0 | 32% |
| Energy & Utilities | $72,707 | $35.0 | 14% |
| Biotechnology | $71,431 | $34.0 | 12% |
| Financial Services | $70,155 | $34.0 | 10% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $70,155 | $34.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Workforce 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $71,989 | $5,999 | $1,384 | $35 |
| Average | $63,778 | $5,315 | $1,226 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,101 | $4,758 | $1,098 | $27 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Workforce Development Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Tierra Del Sol Foundati
Los Angeles, CA
Tierra Del Sol Foundati | Los Angeles, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Tierra Del Sol Foundation is seeking a dedicated and motivated. Project Search Core Direct Support Professional. to suppo... more
6 Days Ago
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
San Jose, CA
Silicon Valley Leadership Group | San Jose, CA
Job Description. Job Description. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) is seeking a highly qualified candidate to serve as an Associate in Workforce ... more
7 Days Ago
Educational Testing Consultants
Downey, CA
Educational Testing Consultants | Downey, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Educational Testing Consultants, Inc. is seeking contract instructors to teach in-person workforce development classes to... more
7 Days Ago
Tierra del Sol Foundation
Sunland, CA
Tierra del Sol Foundation | Sunland, CA
Workforce Development Direct Support Professional. The Workforce Development Direct Support Professional is under the supervision of the Program Manager/Pr... more
3 Days Ago
International Rescue Committee
Los Angeles, CA
International Rescue Committee | Los Angeles, CA
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbein... more
4 Days Ago
Restaurant365
Northern California, CA
Restaurant365 | Northern California, CA
Job Description. Job Description. Restaurant365 is a SaaS company disrupting the restaurant industry. Our cloud-based platform provides a unique, centraliz... more
7 Days Ago
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.
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.
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 CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
