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Best states for a learning development specialist
Quoted expert
Amber Diaz
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for learning development specialists? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for learning development specialist jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.In fact, our research shows that North Carolina is the best state for learning development specialists in America. The best city in America for learning development specialists with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
The median salary for learning development specialists in North Carolina is $81,025. Compare that to the median salary in Vermont of $52,168, which ranked worst for learning development specialists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.North Carolina is the best state, and Atlantic City is the city with the highest pay for learning development specialists.
10 best states for learning development specialists in 2026
1. North Carolina
Total learning development specialist jobs: 1,922 Average annual salary: $81,025 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
2. Pennsylvania
Total learning development specialist jobs: 2,135 Average annual salary: $77,678 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
3. Nevada
Total learning development specialist jobs: 362 Average annual salary: $72,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
4. California
Total learning development specialist jobs: 3,101 Average annual salary: $92,344 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
5. District of Columbia
Total learning development specialist jobs: 260 Average annual salary: $85,685 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
6. New Jersey
Total learning development specialist jobs: 730 Average annual salary: $100,039 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $159,000 Location Quotient: 0.65
7. Washington
Total learning development specialist jobs: 756 Average annual salary: $83,315 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
8. Virginia
Total learning development specialist jobs: 1,184 Average annual salary: $77,133 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. Georgia
Total learning development specialist jobs: 1,836 Average annual salary: $68,257 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 1.25
10. Mississippi
Total learning development specialist jobs: 311 Average annual salary: $69,055 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
Learning development specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a learning development specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a learning development specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | $81,025 | $50,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,922 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $77,678 | $48,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,135 |
| 3 | Nevada | $72,745 | $43,000 | 2,998,039 | 362 |
| 4 | California | $92,344 | $56,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,101 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $85,685 | $53,000 | 693,972 | 260 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $100,039 | $62,000 | 9,005,644 | 730 |
| 7 | Washington | $83,315 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 756 |
| 8 | Virginia | $77,133 | $48,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,184 |
| 9 | Georgia | $68,257 | $43,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,836 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $69,055 | $43,000 | 2,984,100 | 311 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $69,921 | $44,000 | 5,024,369 | 597 |
| 12 | Texas | $70,848 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,412 |
| 13 | Delaware | $71,709 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 166 |
| 14 | Michigan | $64,854 | $39,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,438 |
| 15 | New York | $78,360 | $48,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,316 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $67,658 | $42,000 | 4,684,333 | 471 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $71,916 | $44,000 | 1,059,639 | 125 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $63,744 | $39,000 | 1,342,795 | 377 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $61,299 | $39,000 | 869,666 | 213 |
| 20 | Maryland | $72,923 | $45,000 | 6,052,177 | 699 |
| 21 | Arizona | $66,165 | $42,000 | 7,016,270 | 791 |
| 22 | Ohio | $62,488 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,661 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $62,651 | $38,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,275 |
| 24 | Kansas | $61,084 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 531 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $61,128 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 995 |
| 26 | Indiana | $62,148 | $38,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,079 |
| 27 | Alabama | $61,768 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 721 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $67,425 | $42,000 | 3,588,184 | 343 |
| 29 | Montana | $65,662 | $41,000 | 1,050,493 | 125 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $57,257 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 199 |
| 31 | Florida | $60,178 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,939 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $67,013 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 814 |
| 33 | Illinois | $64,065 | $39,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,135 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $56,350 | $35,000 | 2,088,070 | 411 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $54,293 | $34,000 | 3,004,279 | 584 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $53,006 | $40,000 | 1,427,538 | 180 |
| 37 | Iowa | $56,248 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 624 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $54,774 | $35,000 | 1,920,076 | 451 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $54,774 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,045 |
| 40 | Oregon | $61,958 | $37,000 | 4,142,776 | 413 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $57,652 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 72 |
| 42 | Missouri | $56,494 | $36,000 | 6,113,532 | 953 |
| 43 | Colorado | $60,008 | $39,000 | 5,607,154 | 610 |
| 44 | Utah | $56,773 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 374 |
| 45 | Alaska | $44,131 | $31,000 | 739,795 | 176 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $53,977 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 464 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $47,957 | $29,000 | 1,815,857 | 290 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $52,051 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 607 |
| 49 | Maine | $56,248 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 115 |
| 50 | Idaho | $53,406 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 207 |
| 51 | Vermont | $52,168 | $32,000 | 623,657 | 91 |
Highest paying states for learning development specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Learning Development Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | $81,025 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $77,678 |
| 3 | Nevada | $72,745 |
| 4 | California | $92,344 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $85,685 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $100,039 |
| 7 | Washington | $83,315 |
| 8 | Virginia | $77,133 |
| 9 | Georgia | $68,257 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $69,055 |
| 11 | South Carolina | $69,921 |
| 12 | Texas | $70,848 |
| 13 | Delaware | $71,709 |
| 14 | Michigan | $64,854 |
| 15 | New York | $78,360 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $67,658 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $71,916 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $63,744 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $61,299 |
| 20 | Maryland | $72,923 |
| 21 | Arizona | $66,165 |
| 22 | Ohio | $62,488 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $62,651 |
| 24 | Kansas | $61,084 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $61,128 |
| 26 | Indiana | $62,148 |
| 27 | Alabama | $61,768 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $67,425 |
| 29 | Montana | $65,662 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $57,257 |
| 31 | Florida | $60,178 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $67,013 |
| 33 | Illinois | $64,065 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $56,350 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $54,293 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $53,006 |
| 37 | Iowa | $56,248 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $54,774 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $54,774 |
| 40 | Oregon | $61,958 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $57,652 |
| 42 | Missouri | $56,494 |
| 43 | Colorado | $60,008 |
| 44 | Utah | $56,773 |
| 45 | Alaska | $44,131 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $53,977 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $47,957 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $52,051 |
| 49 | Maine | $56,248 |
| 50 | Idaho | $53,406 |
| 51 | Vermont | $52,168 |
Expert opinions on the best states for learning development specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for learning development specialists to find work opportunities?
Amber Diaz
Assistant Professor, Department Head, Tarleton State University
Texas is a great state for a career in education. I can specifically speak to the school districts in Central Texas. The Texas Governor and Commissioner of Education made time to listen to the communities' concerns and proactively addressed needs through policy and support. I love being an educator in Texas!
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Updated January 8, 2025