Maryland Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across Maryland.
The average salary in Maryland is $117,336 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2025 data aggregated across 1 metropolitan areas (Baltimore). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Family Medicine Physician at $307,400 median; 44 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 114, the average median equates to $102,926 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Maryland has 1 metropolitan areas in our BLS OEWS coverage. Wages within the state vary substantially by metro — large coastal cities typically pay materially more than smaller inland ones, though the cost-of-living gap closes a lot of the apparent difference. BLS OEWS data captures every metropolitan statistical area (MSA) above a population threshold. Cities below that threshold roll up to non-metropolitan areas, which are not represented in the per-metro view but are captured in state-level rollups.
For workers comparing Maryland job markets, the per-metro pages give the role-specific breakdown that headline state averages obscure. The role-specific ranking pages — which list the highest-paying cities for a single occupation — are particularly useful when geographic flexibility is real and the role is the constraint.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Maryland
Family Medicine Physician
Healthcare · 760 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($307,400)
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Healthcare · 90 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($304,220)
Dentist
Healthcare · 880 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($172,110)
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 7,010 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($168,520)
Veterinarian
Healthcare · 700 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($162,930)
Computer Network Architect
Technology · 2,480 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($160,340)
Pediatrician
Healthcare · 420 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($160,160)
Financial Manager
Finance · 9,990 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($157,990)
Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Technology · 1,070 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($156,750)
Human Resources Manager
Management · 1,980 jobs in state · top metro: Baltimore ($146,370)
Cities in Maryland
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in Maryland is $117,336 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 release aggregated across 1 BLS-tracked metros. The figure is employment-weighted, so larger occupations contribute proportionally more to the average. The top-paying role in the state is Family Medicine Physician at $307,400 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in Maryland, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Family Medicine Physician ($307,400), Obstetrician/Gynecologist ($304,220), Dentist ($172,110), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($168,520), Veterinarian ($162,930). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/maryland.
44 of the 65 BLS-tracked occupations in Maryland have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally.
Baltimore, MD leads Maryland with an average median salary of $117,336 across 65 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across Maryland's tracked metros is 114 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $117,336 translates to $102,926 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. COL is roughly in line with the national average.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Maryland, using the OEWS 2025 reference period.
65 data points · BLS OEWS 2025 · last refreshed 2026-05-21
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.