Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Maryland

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

Cost of living: prices in Maryland run 5.0% above the national average (2024), so a Maryland salary is worth about 0.95× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Maryland.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Maryland

OccupationMedian, Maryland · Real change since 2019

1Advertising Sales Agents$59,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,130 – $137,590-27.6%-8.8% nominal
2Therapists, All Other$49,400
Bachelor's degree
$36,340 – $147,300-26.2%-7.1% nominal
3Dietetic Technicians$33,710
Associate's degree
$32,290 – $43,070-24.4%-4.7% nominal
4Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280-22.8%-2.8% nominal
5Training and Development Managers$121,920
Bachelor's degree
$71,230 – $203,690-22.2%-2.1% nominal
6Operations Research Analysts$97,410
Bachelor's degree
$55,880 – $180,750-21.7%-1.4% nominal
7Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$83,500
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,530 – $165,040-21.2%-0.8% nominal
8General and Operations Managers$117,930
Bachelor's degree
$58,190 – $235,850-21.1%-0.6% nominal
9Environmental Engineers$97,570
Bachelor's degree
$62,380 – $156,750-20.8%-0.3% nominal
10Special Education Teachers, Middle School$76,410
Bachelor's degree
$51,100 – $122,710-20.8%-0.3% nominal
11Engineers, All Other$129,770
Bachelor's degree
$60,780 – $195,190-20.7%-0.1% nominal
12Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$47,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,130 – $81,730-19.8%+1.0% nominal
13Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$95,040
Bachelor's degree
$47,200 – $198,730-19.7%+1.2% nominal
14Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,120 – $99,230-19.6%+1.2% nominal
15Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$46,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,060 – $74,010-19.5%+1.4% nominal
16Tax Preparers$47,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $69,790-19.1%+1.9% nominal
17Social Workers, All Other$75,600
Bachelor's degree
$48,690 – $128,440-18.9%+2.1% nominal
18Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $132,050-18.8%+2.3% nominal
19Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,610 – $73,180-18.6%+2.5% nominal
20Producers and Directors$79,350
Bachelor's degree
$43,740 – $148,700-18.0%+3.3% nominal
21Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030-17.4%+4.1% nominal
22Machinists$59,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,950 – $81,880-17.2%+4.2% nominal
23Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$47,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $76,760-17.2%+4.2% nominal
24Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,670
Bachelor's degree
$58,150 – $102,690-17.1%+4.4% nominal
25Loan Officers$73,580
Bachelor's degree
$37,470 – $159,860-16.8%+4.7% nominal
26Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,450 – $169,680-16.4%+5.3% nominal
27Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$77,680
Bachelor's degree
$56,290 – $107,040-16.2%+5.5% nominal
28Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$106,000
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,150 – $172,520-15.4%+6.5% nominal
29First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$82,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,360 – $149,170-15.2%+6.8% nominal
30Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,130
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $59,030-15.1%+6.9% nominal
31Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$68,390
Associate's degree
$45,510 – $129,170-14.8%+7.3% nominal
32Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$61,660
Bachelor's degree
$50,300 – $133,200-14.7%+7.5% nominal
33Microbiologists$108,470
Bachelor's degree
$59,260 – $185,520-14.4%+7.8% nominal
34Biological Technicians$52,900
Bachelor's degree
$41,270 – $82,280-14.3%+8.0% nominal
35Procurement Clerks$53,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $76,900-13.9%+8.4% nominal
36Business Teachers, Postsecondary$126,560
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,460 – $205,950-13.7%+8.7% nominal
37Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$57,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,950 – $80,180-13.7%+8.6% nominal
38Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$49,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $65,270-13.6%+8.8% nominal
39Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$84,190
Bachelor's degree
$57,840 – $137,440-13.1%+9.4% nominal
40Labor Relations Specialists$94,030
Bachelor's degree
$63,760 – $145,430-13.1%+9.4% nominal
41Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,510
Bachelor's degree
$59,890 – $115,540-12.9%+9.6% nominal
42Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$131,510
Master's degree
$81,060 – $172,170-12.4%+10.4% nominal
43Community Health Workers$50,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $79,290-12.1%+10.7% nominal
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,580 – $113,700-12.0%+10.8% nominal
45Phlebotomists$43,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,320 – $58,180-11.8%+11.1% nominal
46Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$75,910
Bachelor's degree
$56,520 – $108,360-11.8%+11.1% nominal
47Glaziers$59,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,870 – $78,880-11.5%+11.5% nominal
48Physical Scientists, All Other$141,290
Bachelor's degree
$76,820 – $195,190-11.5%+11.4% nominal
49Pest Control Workers$47,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,810 – $65,500-11.3%+11.6% nominal
50Marketing Managers$154,160
Bachelor's degree
$82,830 – $256,260-11.0%+12.1% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianMaryland	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,830	$43,130 – $137,590	-27.6%-8.8% nominal
2	Therapists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$49,400	$36,340 – $147,300	-26.2%-7.1% nominal
3	Dietetic TechniciansAssociate's degree	$33,710	$32,290 – $43,070	-24.4%-4.7% nominal
4	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	-22.8%-2.8% nominal
5	Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree	$121,920	$71,230 – $203,690	-22.2%-2.1% nominal
6	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,410	$55,880 – $180,750	-21.7%-1.4% nominal
7	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$83,500	$48,530 – $165,040	-21.2%-0.8% nominal
8	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$117,930	$58,190 – $235,850	-21.1%-0.6% nominal
9	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$97,570	$62,380 – $156,750	-20.8%-0.3% nominal
10	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$76,410	$51,100 – $122,710	-20.8%-0.3% nominal
11	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$129,770	$60,780 – $195,190	-20.7%-0.1% nominal
12	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,420	$33,130 – $81,730	-19.8%+1.0% nominal
13	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$95,040	$47,200 – $198,730	-19.7%+1.2% nominal
14	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,050	$44,120 – $99,230	-19.6%+1.2% nominal
15	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,870	$32,060 – $74,010	-19.5%+1.4% nominal
16	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,020	$37,700 – $69,790	-19.1%+1.9% nominal
17	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$75,600	$48,690 – $128,440	-18.9%+2.1% nominal
18	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,310	$35,410 – $132,050	-18.8%+2.3% nominal
19	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$37,610 – $73,180	-18.6%+2.5% nominal
20	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$79,350	$43,740 – $148,700	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
21	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$54,330 – $75,030	-17.4%+4.1% nominal
22	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,810	$42,950 – $81,880	-17.2%+4.2% nominal
23	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,070	$31,200 – $76,760	-17.2%+4.2% nominal
24	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,670	$58,150 – $102,690	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
25	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$73,580	$37,470 – $159,860	-16.8%+4.7% nominal
26	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,180	$71,450 – $169,680	-16.4%+5.3% nominal
27	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$77,680	$56,290 – $107,040	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
28	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$106,000	$71,150 – $172,520	-15.4%+6.5% nominal
29	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,620	$49,360 – $149,170	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
30	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$44,130	$31,200 – $59,030	-15.1%+6.9% nominal
31	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$68,390	$45,510 – $129,170	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
32	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$61,660	$50,300 – $133,200	-14.7%+7.5% nominal
33	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$108,470	$59,260 – $185,520	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
34	Biological TechniciansBachelor's degree	$52,900	$41,270 – $82,280	-14.3%+8.0% nominal
35	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,960	$38,530 – $76,900	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
36	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$126,560	$62,460 – $205,950	-13.7%+8.7% nominal
37	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,160	$45,950 – $80,180	-13.7%+8.6% nominal
38	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,840	$31,200 – $65,270	-13.6%+8.8% nominal
39	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$84,190	$57,840 – $137,440	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
40	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$94,030	$63,760 – $145,430	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
41	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,510	$59,890 – $115,540	-12.9%+9.6% nominal
42	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$131,510	$81,060 – $172,170	-12.4%+10.4% nominal
43	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,550	$36,190 – $79,290	-12.1%+10.7% nominal
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,970	$58,580 – $113,700	-12.0%+10.8% nominal
45	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,480	$35,320 – $58,180	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
46	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$75,910	$56,520 – $108,360	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
47	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,890	$45,870 – $78,880	-11.5%+11.5% nominal
48	Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$141,290	$76,820 – $195,190	-11.5%+11.4% nominal
49	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,360	$37,810 – $65,500	-11.3%+11.6% nominal
50	Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree	$154,160	$82,830 – $256,260	-11.0%+12.1% nominal

More for Maryland

Metro areas in Maryland

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Maryland

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Maryland to rank honestly.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Maryland

More for Maryland

Metro areas in Maryland

By field in Maryland

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state