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Training and Development Specialists Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Training and Development Specialists salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$67,380
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$66,515
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Training and Development Specialists earning $67,380 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $66,515 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $39,430 $38,923 $-506
25th Percentile (P25) $48,920 $48,292 $-627
Median (P50) $67,380 $66,515 $-864
75th Percentile (P75) $95,120 $93,899 $-1,220
90th Percentile (P90) $119,970 $118,430 $-1,539
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $67,380 keeps most of its value at $66,515 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Training and Development Specialists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $67,380 nominal nets out to $66,515 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Training and Development Specialists.

Bottom-Quartile COL-Adjusted Pay

#41 / 51

Illinois ranks #41 of 51 — bottom quartile for Training and Development Specialists real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.

Best States for Training and Development Specialists (After Cost of Living)

Where does Training and Development Specialists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$90,377
RPP 98.0
2. Alaska
$80,254
RPP 102.0
$79,972
RPP 107.6
$78,515
RPP 97.7
5. Vermont
$76,953
RPP 101.1
$76,673
RPP 92.3
$76,092
RPP 102.1
8. Wyoming
$75,495
RPP 91.9
9. Iowa
$74,785
RPP 88.4
$74,553
RPP 109.8

Illinois ranks #41 out of 51 states for Training and Development Specialists after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Training and Development Specialists take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Training and Development Specialists in Illinois after cost of living?

A Training and Development Specialists in Illinois earns a median salary of $67,380 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $66,515 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Training and Development Specialists in Illinois: $67,380 x (100 / 101.3) = $66,515. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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