Quick answer:Training and Development Specialists in the Chicago area earn a median $67,050 per year, below the national median of $69,280, and the metro employs about 10,940 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Training and Development Pay in Chicago, IL
Metric
Chicago metro
Illinois
National
Median annual wage
$67,050
$67,380
$69,280
10th percentile
$39,430
$39,430
$38,760
25th percentile
$48,590
$48,920
$50,110
75th percentile
$96,170
$95,120
$95,050
90th percentile
$124,110
$119,970
$123,250
Employment
10,940
15,140
458,300
Location quotient
0.82
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Chicago median of $67,050 is below the national median of $69,280, and below the Illinois statewide median of $67,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.82 means training and development specialists are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Training roles sit inside large employers, so the local mix of corporate headquarters, health systems and public agencies is what creates them.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.
See the Illinois licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with ATD for current certification requirements.
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 165 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 Chicago?
The median annual wage for training and development specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $67,050, below the national median of $69,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many training and development specialists work in the Chicago area?
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area employs about 10,940 training and development specialists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do training and development specialists in Chicago need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with ATD for current certification requirements.
Can I study training and development online from Chicago?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies ATD for current certification requirements.
Is Chicago a better market than the rest of Illinois?
The Chicago metro median is $67,050 against a statewide median of $67,380 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
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/.
