Baltimore Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Baltimore, MD: $28.40/hr median hourly wage, $59,070 median annual salary, cost of living index 108, and $15.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Maryland taxes.
Baltimore Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Baltimore, MD is $28.40/hr,and the median annual wage is $59,070. Entry-level pay estimates around $17.61/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $40.33/hr, and the local minimum wage is $15.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan statistical area (1,356,680 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Baltimore shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$59,070
$28.40/hr
Cost of Living
108
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$15.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.5%
rate
Baltimore, MD Overview
Population
585,708
Median Salary
$59,070
Average Salary
$76,370
Avg Commute
30 min
Median Home Price
$210,000
Median Rent
$1,300/mo
Job Growth
+1%
Sales Tax
6%
Baltimore is located in Maryland with a population of 585,708. The median annual wage across all occupations is $59,070 ($28.40/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro), which is $8,090 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 30 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1%.
Baltimore Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Baltimore, MD built around the $59,070 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $36,623 | $17.61/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $59,070 | $28.40/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $83,879 | $40.33/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $105,145 | $50.55/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Baltimore Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Baltimore, MD, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$45,158
$3,763.19/month · $1,736.86/biweekly · Effective Rate: 23.6%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,736.86 take-home per paycheck after estimated Maryland and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$59,070
Federal Tax
-$4,908
State Tax
-$2,594
Local Tax
-$1,890
FICA
-$4,519
Net Pay
$45,158
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,922.50 | $59,070.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$409.03 | -$4,908.40 |
| Maryland State Tax (4.39% eff.) | -$216.18 | -$2,594.20 |
| Local Tax (3.2%) | -$157.52 | -$1,890.24 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$305.20 | -$3,662.34 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$71.38 | -$856.52 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,763.19 | $45,158.31 |
Salary Comparison: Baltimore vs Other Cities
See how Baltimore's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | $59,070 | 108 | $54,694 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Columbia, MD | $59,070 | 128 | $46,148 |
| Annapolis, MD | $59,070 | 125 | $47,256 |
| Ellicott City, MD | $59,070 | 114.2 | $51,725 |
| Glen Burnie, MD | $59,070 | 108.8 | $54,292 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Baltimore
Baltimore's cost of living index is 108 (national average = 100). Living in Baltimore is 8% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$210,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Annual Rent Cost
$15,600
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $45,158 annual take-home pay in Baltimore has the purchasing power of approximately $41,813 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $63,796 in Baltimore to match a $59,070 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Baltimore
Baltimore's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $59,070.
Salary Tips for Baltimore Workers
- Maximize pre-tax deductions. With a top 6.5% state income tax rate, maximizing 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026) and HSA contributions can significantly reduce both your federal and state tax burden.
- Research top industries. Baltimore's top industries include Healthcare, Education, Technology. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $59,070 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Baltimore, MD
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Baltimore. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area (76 of 340); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Baltimore's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Baltimore salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Baltimore indexed at 108.
- Median salary: $59,070 annual, $28.40 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA (1,356,680 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $76,370 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Baltimore was $58,000.
- Tax burden reflects Maryland 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 6.5%), plus Baltimore local tax of 3.2%, sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Baltimore: 4.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Healthcare, Education, Technology, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Maryland.
- Housing context: median home price $210,000, median rent $1,300/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Baltimore, MD:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Baltimore unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Baltimore QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Maryland, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Baltimore's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Maryland labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Baltimore, MD?
The median hourly wage in Baltimore, MD is $28.40 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $59,070. Entry-level workers are estimated around $17.61/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $40.33/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Baltimore, MD?
The median salary in Baltimore, MD is $59,070 per year, or $28.40 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area). The BLS mean salary is $76,370. This is $8,090 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Baltimore, MD?
Baltimore's cost of living index is 108 (national average = 100), meaning it is 8% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $210,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,300.
What are the best industries in Baltimore?
The top industries in Baltimore, MD include Healthcare, Education, Technology. The city has a job growth rate of 1% and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $59,070.
How does Baltimore's salary compare to other cities?
Baltimore's median salary of $59,070 is 15.9% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 108), the real purchasing power is approximately $54,694.
What is the minimum wage in Baltimore, MD?
The minimum wage in Baltimore, MD is $15.00 per hour. This equals approximately $31,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.