diff --git a/nerfstudio/engine/trainer.py b/nerfstudio/engine/trainer.py
index ad9f5100b5..644d62a5b5 100644
--- a/nerfstudio/engine/trainer.py
+++ b/nerfstudio/engine/trainer.py
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ class TrainerConfig(ExperimentConfig):
     """Optionally log gradients during training"""
     gradient_accumulation_steps: Dict[str, int] = field(default_factory=lambda: {})
     """Number of steps to accumulate gradients over. Contains a mapping of {param_group:num}"""
+    start_paused: bool = False
+    """Whether to start the training in a paused state."""
 
 
 class Trainer:
@@ -121,7 +123,9 @@ def __init__(self, config: TrainerConfig, local_rank: int = 0, world_size: int =
             self.device += f":{local_rank}"
         self.mixed_precision: bool = self.config.mixed_precision
         self.use_grad_scaler: bool = self.mixed_precision or self.config.use_grad_scaler
-        self.training_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = "training"
+        self.training_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = (
+            "paused" if self.config.start_paused else "training"
+        )
         self.gradient_accumulation_steps: DefaultDict = defaultdict(lambda: 1)
         self.gradient_accumulation_steps.update(self.config.gradient_accumulation_steps)
 
@@ -361,7 +365,7 @@ def _init_viewer_state(self) -> None:
         assert self.viewer_state and self.pipeline.datamanager.train_dataset
         self.viewer_state.init_scene(
             train_dataset=self.pipeline.datamanager.train_dataset,
-            train_state="training",
+            train_state=self.training_state,
             eval_dataset=self.pipeline.datamanager.eval_dataset,
         )
 
diff --git a/nerfstudio/viewer/viewer.py b/nerfstudio/viewer/viewer.py
index 0d23ff151f..bc58043aa6 100644
--- a/nerfstudio/viewer/viewer.py
+++ b/nerfstudio/viewer/viewer.py
@@ -103,8 +103,10 @@ def __init__(
         self.output_type_changed = True
         self.output_split_type_changed = True
         self.step = 0
-        self.train_btn_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = "training"
-        self._prev_train_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = "training"
+        self.train_btn_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = (
+            "training" if self.trainer is None else self.trainer.training_state
+        )
+        self._prev_train_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = self.train_btn_state
         self.last_move_time = 0
         # track the camera index that last being clicked
         self.current_camera_idx = 0
@@ -174,7 +176,11 @@ def __init__(
         )
         self.resume_train.on_click(lambda _: self.toggle_pause_button())
         self.resume_train.on_click(lambda han: self._toggle_training_state(han))
-        self.resume_train.visible = False
+        if self.train_btn_state == "training":
+            self.resume_train.visible = False
+        else:
+            self.pause_train.visible = False
+
         # Add buttons to toggle training image visibility
         self.hide_images = self.viser_server.gui.add_button(
             label="Hide Train Cams", disabled=False, icon=viser.Icon.EYE_OFF, color=None
diff --git a/nerfstudio/viewer_legacy/server/viewer_state.py b/nerfstudio/viewer_legacy/server/viewer_state.py
index cfb3bff7b1..990a7bbf1d 100644
--- a/nerfstudio/viewer_legacy/server/viewer_state.py
+++ b/nerfstudio/viewer_legacy/server/viewer_state.py
@@ -116,8 +116,10 @@ def __init__(
         self.output_type_changed = True
         self.output_split_type_changed = True
         self.step = 0
-        self.train_btn_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = "training"
-        self._prev_train_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = "training"
+        self.train_btn_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = (
+            "training" if self.trainer is None else self.trainer.training_state
+        )
+        self._prev_train_state: Literal["training", "paused", "completed"] = self.train_btn_state
 
         self.camera_message = None