Maryland Salary Percentile
Calculator
Maryland has progressive state income taxes plus a county piggyback tax, making the total state and local income tax burden among the highest in the nation. High median salaries are driven by proximity to Washington D.C. and a large federal contractor ecosystem.
Enter your gross annual salary (pre-tax). Hourly workers: multiply hourly rate by 2,080.
Maryland salary percentiles — May 2025
| Percentile | Maryland | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36K | $31K |
| 25th | $44K | $38K |
| 50th (median)median | $60K | $51K |
| 75th | $94K | $81K |
| 90th | $150K | $129K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2025 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Maryland's state median of $60K is 15% above the national median, driven by federal government and contractor jobs. Maryland counties add local income taxes of 2.25-3.2% on top of state rates.
Maryland salary — frequently asked questions
What is the median salary in Maryland?
The median annual salary in Maryland is approximately $60K based on May 2025 BLS data, significantly above the national median. Maryland's proximity to Washington D.C. creates a large federal government and defense contractor workforce that drives wages higher than most Mid-Atlantic states.
Why are Maryland salaries so high?
Maryland benefits from proximity to the federal government. The National Security Agency (Fort Meade), NIH (Bethesda), DISA, and hundreds of defense and intelligence contractors employ highly paid workers throughout the state. Montgomery County (home to NIH and FDA) has one of the highest median household incomes of any large county in the US.
How much is Maryland income tax?
Maryland has progressive state income tax rates from 2% to 5.75%, plus a county income tax of 2.25-3.2% that varies by county (Howard and Montgomery counties are near the top). This means Maryland residents can pay 8-9% in combined state and county income taxes, making total tax burden substantial despite high gross wages.
What is a good salary in Baltimore vs. the D.C. suburbs?
The Maryland D.C. suburbs (Montgomery County, Prince George's County) have significantly higher wages and costs than Baltimore. A $90,000 salary is considered solid in Baltimore; the same salary in Bethesda or Rockville is middle class given the cost of living. Federal contractor and government wages in suburban Maryland frequently exceed $150,000.
What is the average salary in Maryland?
"Average" and "median" measure different things, but BLS reports the median: the midpoint where half of Maryland workers earn more and half earn less. The Maryland median is $60K, above the national median of $51K. Use the calculator above to see exactly where your salary ranks.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$46K median
Alaska
$61K median
Arizona
$50K median
Arkansas
$44K median
California
$58K median
Colorado
$60K median
Connecticut
$60K median
Delaware
$52K median
Florida
$48K median
Georgia
$48K median
Hawaii
$56K median
Idaho
$48K median
Illinois
$52K median
Indiana
$48K median
Iowa
$49K median
Kansas
$48K median
Kentucky
$47K median
Louisiana
$46K median
Maine
$51K median
Maryland
$60K median
Massachusetts
$64K median
Michigan
$49K median
Minnesota
$57K median
Mississippi
$40K median
Missouri
$48K median
Montana
$49K median
Nebraska
$49K median
Nevada
$48K median
New Hampshire
$56K median
New Jersey
$59K median
New Mexico
$47K median
New York
$60K median
North Carolina
$48K median
North Dakota
$52K median
Ohio
$49K median
Oklahoma
$46K median
Oregon
$57K median
Pennsylvania
$50K median
Rhode Island
$57K median
South Carolina
$46K median
South Dakota
$47K median
Tennessee
$47K median
Texas
$49K median
Utah
$50K median
Vermont
$56K median
Virginia
$56K median
Washington
$63K median
Washington D.C.
$92K median
West Virginia
$45K median
Wisconsin
$50K median
Wyoming
$50K median