Average Salaries in Maryland
Explore salaries across 742 occupations in Maryland. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $72.0K, +17.0% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates. Coverage: 742 occupations and 2,718,650 total jobs in Maryland.
How the state compares
Maryland is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
Maryland has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Maryland
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Top wages
Highest-paid occupations in Maryland
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $218.5K | N/A |
| Physicians, All Other | $209.4K | 9,800 |
| Pediatricians, General | $208.2K | 510 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $200.0K | 160 |
| Podiatrists | $194.7K | N/A |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $190.4K | 70 |
| Dentists, General | $189.3K | 2,190 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, And Magistrates | $181.3K | 390 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $171.6K | 15,120 |
| Ship Engineers | $170.6K | 100 |
Most jobs
Largest occupations in Maryland
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| General And Operations Managers | 91,810 | $105.3K |
| Retail Salespersons | 72,010 | $34.3K |
| Secretaries And Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, And Executive | 55,250 | $46.8K |
| Cashiers | 53,870 | $32.9K |
| Registered Nurses | 48,980 | $96.8K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 48,270 | $31.2K |
| Laborers And Freight, Stock, And Material Movers, Hand | 44,620 | $40.2K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 42,730 | $36.1K |
| Customer Service Representatives | 40,680 | $40.3K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 39,680 | $38.3K |
What Maryland specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Maryland than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Location quotient
Most concentrated occupations in Maryland
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomers | 20.54 | $158.0K |
| Healthcare Diagnosing Or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 11.25 | $160.6K |
| Geographers | 10.46 | $109.1K |
| Stonemasons | 7.89 | $47.9K |
| Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, And Blasters | 7.60 | $93.6K |
| Microbiologists | 5.79 | $101.1K |
| Statisticians | 5.78 | $128.9K |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 4.91 | $115.7K |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | 4.72 | $143.2K |
| Animal Scientists | 4.60 | $73.6K |
Peer markets
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86.2K | Obstetricians And Gynecologists |
| California | $77.6K | Chief Executives |
| Washington | $77.0K | Podiatrists |
| New York | $76.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Massachusetts | $75.6K | Dentists, All Other Specialists |
| New Jersey | $73.7K | Physicians, All Other |
| Alaska | $73.0K | Dentists, General |
| Connecticut | $72.7K | Nurse Anesthetists |
Metros inside Maryland
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Inside this state
Major metros in Maryland
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $70.4K | 1,310,090 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $60.2K | 99,400 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $75.2K | 65,860 |
| Salisbury, MD | $61.4K | 47,710 |
Common salary questions for Maryland
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.