The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan statistical area, as BLS defines it.
Pay data · metro area
Average Salary in Baltimore, MD (2026)
The average salary in the Baltimore metro area is $76,370 a year and the median is $59,070: 16% above the US median and 1% below Maryland's (BLS, May 2025). At national-average prices the median is worth $56,530, 42nd of 387 metro areas.
- Average (mean) salary
- $76,370US $69,770
- Median salary
- $59,070US $50,980
- Median hourly
- $28.40BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Price level
- 104.5US = 100 · BEA 2024
The spread
What workers in Baltimore earn
| Percentile | Baltimore area | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,230 | $34,520 | $31,200 |
| 25th | $39,160 | $39,440 | $37,590 |
| 50th (median) | $59,070 | $59,510 | $50,980 |
| 75th | $95,340 | $98,010 | $80,520 |
| 90th | $138,650 | $145,410 | $128,560 |
| Mean | $76,370 | $77,580 | $69,770 |
Prices
Cost of living in Baltimore
BEA Regional Price Parities put the Baltimore area at 104.5 against a US average of 100. Matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $104,490 here. Compare with another city.
US = 100
- All items104.5
- Housing (rents)118.2
- Goods102.4
- Utilities110.2
- Other services101.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| All items | 104.5 |
| Housing (rents) | 118.2 |
| Goods | 102.4 |
| Utilities | 110.2 |
| Other services | 101.5 |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Common jobs
What common jobs pay in Baltimore
Mean annual wage in the Baltimore area against the national mean for the same occupation (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Occupation | Baltimore area | US mean | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $99,090 | $101,420 | -2% |
| Software Developer | $153,900 | $148,100 | +4% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $76,570 | $72,650 | +5% |
| Accountant | $94,890 | $94,750 | 0% |
| Electrician | $72,800 | $71,490 | +2% |
| Truck Driver | $60,780 | $59,710 | +2% |
| Customer Service Representative | $45,800 | $46,590 | -2% |
| Retail Salesperson | $37,320 | $37,310 | 0% |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,620 | $42,700 | 0% |
| General and Operations Manager | $134,760 | $134,940 | 0% |
| Maintenance and Repair Worker, General | $54,540 | $53,780 | +1% |
| Cook, Restaurant | $39,330 | $38,730 | +2% |
The jobs
Best-paying jobs in Baltimore
BLS publishes estimates for 609 occupations in this metro. Highest mean pay, and the large occupations this area pays furthest above their national average.
Highest-paying jobs
Mean annual wage
- 1Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric$223,290
- 2Nurse Anesthetist$217,780
- 3Podiatrist$200,660
- 4Dentist$184,410
- 5Pediatrician, General$182,960
- 6Judge$177,530
- 7IT Manager$173,800
- 8Financial Manager$170,830
- 9Architectural and Engineering Manager$167,230
- 10Aerospace Engineer$165,170
Jobs Baltimore pays above the national average
Occupations with 100,000+ US workers
- 1Computer Network Support Specialist$113,400 · +39%
- 2Tutor$66,350 · +38%
- 3Detective and Criminal Investigator$134,010 · +35%
- 4Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic$58,640 · +28%
- 5Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$46,240 · +26%
- 6Emergency Medical Technician$58,590 · +25%
- 7Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender$65,060 · +24%
- 8Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$98,900 · +23%
- 9Network and Computer Systems Administrator$126,730 · +22%
- 10Data Scientist$152,210 · +20%
Method
About these numbers
- All-occupations wages for the metro are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 estimates (api.bls.gov). Wage and salary workers only; excludes the self-employed.
- Pay by occupation is the OEWS May 2025 mean for that occupation in this metro, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 prevailing-wage file. Only figures BLS estimated for this metro itself are used, never state or national fallbacks.
- Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. Price-adjusted pay is a NueCareer calculation (wage ÷ RPP/100).
Questions
Average salary in Baltimore: FAQ
What is the average salary in Baltimore?
Across all occupations in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, the average (mean) annual wage is $76,370 and the median is $59,070, 16% above the US median (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That covers 1,356,680 wage and salary jobs.
What is a good salary in Baltimore?
Above $59,070 out-earns half of workers in the Baltimore area; the top 25% start at $95,340 and the top 10% at $138,650. Prices run 4% above the national average (BEA, 2024), so matching a $100,000 national-average lifestyle takes about $104,490 here.
Is Baltimore expensive to live in?
BEA's price level for the Baltimore metro is 104.5 (US = 100, 2024). Housing rents are 118.2, goods 102.4, utilities 110.2. At local prices the median wage is worth $56,530, 42nd of 387 metros.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Baltimore?
By mean annual wage: Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($223,290), Nurse Anesthetist ($217,780), Podiatrist ($200,660), Dentist ($184,410), Pediatrician, General ($182,960) (BLS OEWS May 2025, via the DOL wage file).