Quick answer:Training and Development Specialists in California earn a median $75,790 per year, above the national median of $69,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 46,530 of them. Licensing runs through ATD for current certification requirements.
Training and Development Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$75,790
$69,280
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$43,320
$38,760
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$51,360
$50,110
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$105,440
$95,050
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$134,270
$123,250
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
46,530
458,300
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.87
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
10.8%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $75,790 sits above the national median of $69,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.87 puts California slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Training roles sit inside large employers, so the local mix of corporate headquarters, health systems and public agencies is what creates them.
Training and Development Specialists Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), training and development specialists wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
15,030
$71,990
$79,570
$38,940
$129,990
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
6,310
$95,050
$100,800
$50,320
$162,220
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
4,690
$60,010
$69,360
$43,190
$113,690
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
3,840
$75,670
$82,430
$44,920
$132,070
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
3,310
$104,770
$109,240
$53,510
$163,560
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
2,610
$76,180
$82,910
$44,850
$132,970
Fresno
960
$65,060
$76,560
$41,540
$131,720
Bakersfield-Delano
940
$58,860
$67,040
$39,020
$106,890
Stockton-Lodi
850
$60,580
$71,280
$43,670
$113,980
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
790
$60,100
$72,560
$43,270
$122,830
Modesto
580
$74,220
$81,590
$44,030
$131,980
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
450
$75,890
$83,050
$43,740
$132,120
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
450
$75,590
$80,250
$46,280
$123,070
Visalia
370
$61,000
$70,050
$39,070
$117,930
Vallejo
320
$72,750
$83,270
$43,500
$144,420
Salinas
290
$66,030
$76,550
$43,570
$129,680
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
280
$77,400
$80,590
$44,930
$127,790
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
250
$76,270
$89,500
$43,240
$174,300
Merced
190
$60,990
$69,120
$39,170
$126,590
Redding
170
$63,100
$70,570
$39,190
$107,270
Chico
160
$58,790
$69,500
$40,030
$125,110
El Centro
140
$61,010
$72,710
$37,320
$125,950
Napa
120
$72,940
$87,080
$47,670
$146,540
Yuba City
120
$48,280
$65,370
$43,480
$112,350
Hanford-Corcoran
110
$60,520
$67,060
$36,580
$108,280
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Corporate training is not a licensed occupation. The recognized credentials are the CPTD and APTD from ATD and the CPLP lineage they replaced, each combining an examination with documented practice. Instructional design roles frequently ask for a portfolio in place of any certificate.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with ATD for current certification requirements that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 208 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do training and development specialists make in California?
The median annual wage for training and development specialists in California is $75,790, above the national median of $69,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $51,360 at the 25th percentile to $105,440 at the 75th.
How many training and development specialists work in California?
California holds about 46,530 training and development specialist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 458,300, and BLS projects about 43,900 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a training and development specialist in California?
Corporate training is not a licensed occupation. The recognized credentials are the CPTD and APTD from ATD and the CPLP lineage they replaced, each combining an examination with documented practice. Instructional design roles frequently ask for a portfolio in place of any certificate. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with ATD for current certification requirements before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a training and development bachelor's or master's online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies ATD for current certification requirements.
What is the highest-paying area of California for training and development specialists?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $104,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for training and development specialists?
On pay, the state median of $75,790 sits above the national $69,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.87 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Training and Development Specialists (SOC 13-1151), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
