Bethesda Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Bethesda, MD: $34.16/hr median hourly wage, $71,060 median annual salary, cost of living index 116.7, and $15.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Maryland taxes.
Bethesda Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Bethesda, MD is $34.16/hr,and the median annual wage is $71,060. Entry-level pay estimates around $21.18/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $48.51/hr, and the local minimum wage is $15.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area (3,136,190 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Bethesda shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Bethesda salary source review
Reviewed May 26, 2026 for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro and Montgomery County labor market context.
Bethesda salaries often reflect federal contractors, healthcare, biotech, research, consulting, and DC-area professional services rather than a generic Maryland city average. A salary of $71,060 in Bethesda converts to about $54,946 after estimated 2026 federal, FICA, state, and local income taxes before benefits or retirement deductions.
- Compare offers against DC metro roles when the employer is federal-adjacent, healthcare, research, consulting, or professional services.
- Maryland income tax plus county-level withholding assumptions should be included before comparing Bethesda with DC or Northern Virginia.
- High housing costs make take-home pay and cost-of-living-adjusted purchasing power more useful than gross salary alone.
Median Salary
$71,060
$34.16/hr
Cost of Living
116.7
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$15.00
per hour
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Bethesda, MD Overview
Population
68,056
Median Salary
$71,060
Average Salary
$91,930
Avg Commute
17 min
Median Home Price
$412,000
Median Rent
$1,682/mo
Job Growth
+2.5%
Sales Tax
6%
Bethesda is located in Maryland with a population of 68,056. The median annual wage across all occupations is $71,060 ($34.16/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro), which is $20,080 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 17 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.5%.
Bethesda Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Bethesda, MD built around the $71,060 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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 | $44,057 | $21.18/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $71,060 | $34.16/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $100,905 | $48.51/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $126,487 | $60.80/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.
Bethesda Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Bethesda, MD, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$54,946
$4,578.87/month · $2,113.32/biweekly · Effective Rate: 22.7%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $2,113.32 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
$71,060
Federal Tax
-$6,803
State Tax
-$3,164
Local Tax
-$711
FICA
-$5,436
Net Pay
$54,946
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $5,921.67 | $71,060.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$566.93 | -$6,803.20 |
| Maryland State Tax (4.45% eff.) | -$263.64 | -$3,163.73 |
| Local Tax (1%) | -$59.22 | -$710.60 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$367.14 | -$4,405.72 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$85.86 | -$1,030.37 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $4,578.87 | $54,946.38 |
Salary Comparison: Bethesda vs Other Cities
See how Bethesda's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethesda, MD | $71,060 | 116.7 | $60,891 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Frederick, MD | $71,060 | 115 | $61,791 |
| Rockville, MD | $71,060 | 132 | $53,833 |
| Arlington, VA | $71,060 | 150 | $47,373 |
| Alexandria, VA | $71,060 | 140 | $50,757 |
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 Bethesda
Bethesda's cost of living index is 116.7 (national average = 100). Living in Bethesda is 16.700000000000003% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$412,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,682
Annual Rent Cost
$20,184
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $54,946 annual take-home pay in Bethesda has the purchasing power of approximately $47,083 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $82,927 in Bethesda to match a $71,060 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Bethesda
Bethesda's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $71,060.
Salary Tips for Bethesda 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. Bethesda's top industries include Cybersecurity, Biotech, Government. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $71,060 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.
Other Cities in Maryland
Bowie
Catonsville
Chillum
Clinton
College Park
Columbia
Crofton
Dundalk
Eldersburg
Ellicott City
Essex
Frederick
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Bethesda salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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 Bethesda indexed at 116.7.
- Median salary: $71,060 annual, $34.16 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA (3,136,190 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $91,930 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Bethesda was $71,145.
- Tax burden reflects Maryland 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 6.5%), plus Bethesda local tax of 1%, sales tax (6%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Bethesda: 3.5%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Cybersecurity, Biotech, Government, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Maryland.
- Housing context: median home price $412,000, median rent $1,682/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Bethesda, MD:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Bethesda unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Bethesda 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. Bethesda'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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Bethesda, MD?
The median hourly wage in Bethesda, MD is $34.16 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $71,060. Entry-level workers are estimated around $21.18/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $48.51/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Bethesda, MD?
The median salary in Bethesda, MD is $71,060 per year, or $34.16 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area). The BLS mean salary is $91,930. This is $20,080 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Bethesda, MD?
Bethesda's cost of living index is 116.7 (national average = 100), meaning it is 16.700000000000003% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $412,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,682.
What are the best industries in Bethesda?
The top industries in Bethesda, MD include Cybersecurity, Biotech, Government. The city has a job growth rate of 2.5% and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $71,060.
How does Bethesda's salary compare to other cities?
Bethesda's median salary of $71,060 is 39.4% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 116.7), the real purchasing power is approximately $60,891.
What is the minimum wage in Bethesda, MD?
The minimum wage in Bethesda, 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.