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The average salary for a Workforce Development Specialist in the United States stands at $43,666 per year or approximately $21 per hour. This salary can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific organization. Entry-level positions tend to start lower, while specialists with several years of experience can command higher salaries.
Highest Paying States: States like California, New York, and Texas often offer the highest salaries for this role, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in large metropolitan areas.
Career Progression: As specialists gain experience, they may take on more responsibilities, leading to advanced roles such as program director or manager, often translating to increased earnings. According to industry estimates, workforce development specialists can also enhance their earning potential through certifications and additional training.
For those considering this career path, understanding salary dynamics and opportunities for advancement is essential. Explore available positions to find the best fit for your skills and aspirations.
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The average workforce development specialist salary in New Jersey, California, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average workforce development specialist salary states are Vermont, South Carolina, and Alaska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | $47,003 | $22.60 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| 3 | Michigan | $45,211 | $21.74 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $59,737 | $28.72 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $63,301 | $30.43 |
| 6 | Missouri | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $43,893 | $21.10 |
| 8 | Illinois | $50,920 | $24.48 |
| 9 | California | $58,709 | $28.23 |
| 10 | Washington | $53,214 | $25.58 |
| 11 | Arizona | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $53,233 | $25.59 |
| 13 | Mississippi | $43,953 | $21.13 |
| 14 | Montana | $42,674 | $20.52 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $42,537 | $20.45 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $43,233 | $20.79 |
| 17 | Delaware | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| 18 | New York | $48,365 | $23.25 |
| 19 | Maryland | $46,958 | $22.58 |
| 20 | Virginia | $45,845 | $22.04 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $43,651 | $20.99 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $44,547 | $21.42 |
| 23 | Texas | $43,138 | $20.74 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $45,551 | $21.90 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $43,283 | $20.81 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $40,685 | $19.56 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $45,801 | $22.02 |
| 28 | Nevada | $40,202 | $19.33 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $42,315 | $20.34 |
| 30 | Colorado | $43,597 | $20.96 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $39,101 | $18.80 |
| 32 | Ohio | $39,277 | $18.88 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $38,423 | $18.47 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $38,046 | $18.29 |
| 35 | Georgia | $38,965 | $18.73 |
| 36 | Alabama | $38,929 | $18.72 |
| 37 | Iowa | $38,448 | $18.48 |
| 38 | Florida | $37,053 | $17.81 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $34,992 | $16.82 |
| 40 | Utah | $39,687 | $19.08 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $39,504 | $18.99 |
| 42 | Indiana | $36,842 | $17.71 |
| 43 | Oregon | $41,127 | $19.77 |
| 44 | Alaska | $32,906 | $15.82 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $29,414 | $14.14 |
| 46 | Idaho | $35,148 | $16.90 |
| 47 | Maine | $35,395 | $17.02 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $33,841 | $16.27 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $31,288 | $15.04 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $28,434 | $13.67 |
| 51 | Vermont | $33,904 | $16.30 |
The highest-paying cities for workforce development specialists are Roseville, CA, Washington, DC, and Bridgeport, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roseville, CA | $62,646 | $30.12 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $59,782 | $28.74 |
| 3 | Bridgeport, CT | $53,954 | $25.94 |
| 4 | Renton, WA | $53,478 | $25.71 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $48,728 | $23.43 |
| 6 | Annapolis, MD | $47,092 | $22.64 |
| 7 | Overland Park, KS | $46,961 | $22.58 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $46,574 | $22.39 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO | $46,549 | $22.38 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $45,493 | $21.87 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,480 | $21.87 |
| 12 | Winona, MN | $44,427 | $21.36 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $44,003 | $21.16 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $43,676 | $21.00 |
| 15 | Lafayette, LA | $43,658 | $20.99 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,522 | $20.92 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $42,929 | $20.64 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $42,898 | $20.62 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $40,018 | $19.24 |
| 20 | Memphis, TN | $39,060 | $18.78 |
A workforce development specialist's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $43,666 | $3,639 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of workforce development specialists are senior training specialist, development officer, and training specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training Facilitator | $51,968 | $4,331 | $24.98 | 39,523 |
| Facilitator | $44,851 | $3,738 | $21.56 | 30,474 |
| Training Coordinator | $46,698 | $3,891 | $22.45 | 54,796 |
| Training Consultant | $56,760 | $4,730 | $27.29 | 52,054 |
| Corporate Trainer | $58,803 | $4,900 | $28.27 | 52,090 |
| Epic Credentialed Trainer | $75,929 | $6,327 | $36.50 | 41,467 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for workforce development specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Raina Gandhi
Assistant Dean of Career Services, American University
Top companies hiring workforce development specialists now:
Workforce development specialist salaries at Meta and Micron Technology are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average workforce development specialist salary at companies like Goldman Sachs and IBM are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $127,304 | $61.20 |
| 2 | Micron Technology | $101,648 | $48.87 |
| 3 | Goldman Sachs | $88,707 | $42.65 |
| 4 | IBM | $84,833 | $40.79 |
| 5 | CDC Foundation | $63,218 | $30.39 |
| 6 | Boeing | $61,393 | $29.52 |
| 7 | University Hospitals | $59,261 | $28.49 |
| 8 | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $59,236 | $28.48 |
| 9 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $57,189 | $27.49 |
| 10 | Logistics Management Institute | $54,370 | $26.14 |
| 11 | Kinder Morgan | $51,695 | $24.85 |
| 12 | Washington State University | $51,491 | $24.76 |
| 13 | Louisiana State Police | $51,088 | $24.56 |
| 14 | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | $49,904 | $23.99 |
| 15 | Vencore | $49,564 | $23.83 |
| 16 | UMOM New Day Centers | $48,375 | $23.26 |
| 17 | El Paso County | $48,085 | $23.12 |
| 18 | Bexar County | $47,684 | $22.93 |
| 19 | Latin American Youth Center | $47,578 | $22.87 |
| 20 | Arapahoe County | $47,228 | $22.71 |
The average workforce development specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation | $60,428 | $29.05 |
| 2 | Telecommunication | $48,577 | $23.35 |
| 3 | Technology | $45,014 | $21.64 |
| 4 | Professional | $42,198 | $20.29 |
| 5 | Government | $40,647 | $19.54 |
| 6 | Education | $38,778 | $18.64 |
| 7 | Non Profits | $36,330 | $17.47 |
The average workforce development specialist salary has risen by $5,258 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average workforce development specialist earned $38,408 annually, but today, they earn $43,666 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for workforce development specialists over the last decade.
Compare workforce development specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare workforce development specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,700 | $20.99 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $42,600 | $20.49 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $42,400 | $20.38 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $42,000 | $20.21 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $41,100 | $19.76 | +1.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nu Technology | Military Community Workforce Development Specialist | San Diego, CA | 06/30/2025 | $46,331 |
| State of Kentucky | Workforce Development Specialist II (Fftl) | Frankfort, KY | 06/27/2025 | $37,050 |
| Metropolitan Family Services | Workforce Specialist | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $49,250 |
| Washington D.C | Pathways To Public Service Program-Workforce Development Specialist-Department of Employment SER | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $74,893 |
| MacNy | Macny-Workforce Development Specialist-Partners for Education & Business, INC. | Syracuse, NY | 06/25/2025 | $60,500 |
| State of Texas | Workforce Development Specialist (Orange or Port Arthur) | Port Arthur, TX | 06/22/2025 | $37,200 |
| Intellipro Group | Contingent Workforce Specialist | San Jose, CA | 06/21/2025 | $73,045 |
| Nextdeavor | Contingent Workforce Specialist | San Jose, CA | 06/21/2025 | $66,784 |
| MGM Resorts | Workforce Management Specialist-MGM Grand Detroit | Detroit, MI | 06/20/2025 | $48,001 |
| University of Maryland Medical Center Baltimore Washington | Workforce Development Specialist | Baltimore, MD | 06/19/2025 | $63,153 |
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