Salaries · United States · Maryland
Salaries in Maryland 2026
The median pay for all jobs in Maryland is $59,510 a year ($28.61 an hour), 17% above the US median of $50,980 (BLS, May 2025): the 8th highest of the 50 states and DC. Full-time workers living in Maryland earn a median of $75,407 (Census ACS 2020 to 2024).
By Dominic Roworth · From BLS, Census and BEA data, checked 31 October 2026
Pay in Maryland: the key figures
| Figure | Maryland | United States | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median pay, all jobs | $59,510 | $50,980 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Average (mean) pay | $77,580 | $69,770 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Lowest-paid 10% earn under | $34,520 | $31,200 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Highest-paid 10% earn over | $145,410 | $128,560 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Jobs counted | 2,763,030 | 155,495,730 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Full-time workers living here, median | $75,407 ± $504 | $61,657 | Census ACS 2020-2024, B20018 |
| Median household income | $103,678 ± $597 | $80,734 | Census ACS 2020-2024, B19013 |
| Price level (US = 100) | 105.0 | 100.0 | BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 |
| Minimum wage | $15.00 | $7.25 | State labor department |
Take-home pay on the median
On $59,510, a single person keeps about $47,536 a year ($3,961 a month) after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, Maryland income tax. With prices 5% above the US average, $59,510 here buys what $56,700 buys at average US prices.
| Median pay | $59,510 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | -$4,961 |
| Social Security | -$3,690 |
| Medicare | -$863 |
| Maryland income tax | -$2,461 |
| Take-home a year | $47,536 |
What drives pay in Maryland
Maryland's pay is shaped by its place next to Washington. Federal civilian government produced 10.1% of the state's GDP in 2025, nearly five times the US share of 2.1%, and paid 11.7% of all employee compensation, according to BEA. Professional, scientific and technical services added 9.9% of GDP (US 8.0%), and computer systems design 2.8% (US 1.8%). Manufacturing (5.3%, against 9.5%) and finance and insurance (4.6%, against 8.7%) are smaller than nationally.
That mix brings a large professional workforce. General and operations managers are the most common job, 96,740 of them on a median of $117,930, and the state has 31,350 software developers on $138,680 and 14,620 computer and information systems managers on $171,490. The 90th percentile is $145,410, well above the US figure of $128,560, and the all-jobs median is $59,510, 17% above the US and 8th of the 50 states and DC. Prices are about 5% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
Federal cuts are now the main change. Real GDP grew only 0.8% in 2025, a third of the US rate, and 8.7% from 2019 to 2025, against 15.6% nationally. In September 2026 the state's Board of Revenue Estimates described an ongoing labor market contraction: Maryland still had fewer jobs in August 2026 than in January 2025, with federal and private losses only partly offset by state and local hiring. Income tax withheld from federal civilian pay was 10.6% lower in the second quarter of 2026 than a year earlier, and the board lists further federal spending and job reductions among the risks to its forecast.
The highest-paid jobs in Maryland
Median annual pay, for jobs with at least 1,000 workers in the state (BLS, May 2025).
| Job | Workers | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | 1,050 | $285,730 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 3,250 | $260,410 |
| Chief Executives | 3,180 | $248,660 |
| Physicians, All Other | 10,340 | $212,080 |
| Physicists | 1,200 | $174,390 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 5,240 | $172,670 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 14,620 | $171,490 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 4,820 | $168,620 |
| Dentists, General | 2,100 | $168,500 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 5,840 | $164,670 |
| Veterinarians | 1,430 | $163,170 |
| Purchasing Managers | 2,380 | $161,470 |
| Computer Network Architects | 5,860 | $159,460 |
| Managers, All Other | 17,530 | $159,040 |
| Financial Managers | 19,770 | $158,750 |
The most common jobs in Maryland
The jobs with the most workers, and what they pay.
| Job | Workers | Median a year | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 96,740 | $117,930 | $56.70 |
| Retail Salespersons | 79,320 | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 54,890 | $48,680 | $23.41 |
| Registered Nurses | 52,910 | $99,790 | $47.98 |
| Cashiers | 49,910 | $34,390 | $16.54 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 49,380 | $33,660 | $16.18 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 47,710 | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 46,560 | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 40,390 | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 39,820 | $101,500 | $48.80 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 38,120 | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 37,740 | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 34,980 | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Software Developers | 31,350 | $138,680 | $66.67 |
| Project Management Specialists | 30,530 | $104,040 | $50.02 |
Pay for careers we cover, in Maryland
Official BLS medians for Maryland; each links to the full salary guide with pay by state.
| Career | Workers | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Anesthetist | 840 | $223,140 |
| Dentist | 2,100 | $168,500 |
| Aerospace Engineer | 3,180 | $156,750 |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | 8,650 | $139,640 |
| Lawyer | 13,810 | $139,110 |
| Pharmacist | 5,400 | $138,990 |
| Software Engineer | 31,350 | $138,680 |
| Physician Assistant | 2,950 | $137,560 |
| Data Scientist | 3,340 | $136,370 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 70 | $131,290 |
| Commercial Pilot | 360 | $131,210 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 6,710 | $131,110 |
| Actuary | 580 | $126,950 |
| Elevator Technician | 810 | $122,260 |
| Dental Hygienist | 3,500 | $107,830 |
| Project Manager | 30,530 | $104,040 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | 1,070 | $100,500 |
| Financial Analyst | 5,360 | $100,370 |
| Registered Nurse | 52,910 | $99,790 |
| UX Designer | 1,310 | $96,760 |
| Accountant | 26,170 | $89,370 |
| Compliance Officer | 10,100 | $84,720 |
| Electrician | 13,690 | $73,490 |
| HVAC Technician | 8,560 | $70,020 |
| Paralegal | 6,460 | $65,640 |
| Plumber | 11,420 | $65,400 |
| Welder | 2,850 | $60,310 |
Maryland and its neighbors
| State | Median pay | Price level | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $59,510 | 105.0 | $56,700 |
| District of Columbia | $91,540 | 109.9 | $83,300 |
| Delaware | $52,190 | 99.8 | $52,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,690 | 97.6 | $50,900 |
| Virginia | $55,690 | 101.1 | $55,100 |
| West Virginia | $45,300 | 89.5 | $50,600 |
Limits
BLS figures cover jobs located in Maryland, not the self-employed; Census figures cover people who live here. Take-home assumes a single filer with the standard deduction. More in our methodology.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state file)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024 (tables B20018 and B19013)
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state (table SARPP), 2024
- Take-home pay: Paygrade's 2026 federal and state tax engine, see the methodology.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: GDP by state and industry, 2025 (industry shares and growth rates are our calculation), data last updated 30 Sep 2026
- Maryland Board of Revenue Estimates: September 2026 board presentation (Bureau of Revenue Estimates), September 2026 (board report letter dated 24 Sep 2026)
Related
- Salary comparison by city: what a salary is worth in another US city
- Salaries in the United States