Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Each occupation's median wage in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD run 4.5% above the national average (2024), so a Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD salary is worth about 0.96× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

OccupationMedian, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD · vs. national

1Teachers and Instructors, All Other$99,430
Bachelor's degree
$57,450 – $149,220+50.3%
2Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$101,700
Bachelor's degree
$62,810 – $118,510+37.0%
3Detectives and Criminal Investigators$128,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,160 – $189,970+36.9%
4Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$107,140
Associate's degree
$57,160 – $138,240+36.7%
5Computer Network Support Specialists$102,980
Associate's degree
$55,910 – $171,440+35.1%
6Education Administrators, All Other$128,410
Bachelor's degree
$54,090 – $170,050+34.9%
7Chemists$118,880
Bachelor's degree
$65,070 – $185,220+30.3%
8Skincare Specialists$58,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,050 – $85,420+30.0%
9Tutors$56,200
Some college, no degree
$31,510 – $119,460+29.6%
10Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$63,200
No formal educational credential
$41,890 – $83,700+28.7%
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$98,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,910 – $144,680+26.5%
12Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$100,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$68,440 – $121,100+26.4%
13Family Medicine Physicians$307,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$136,250 – $420,950+25.9%
14General Internal Medicine Physicians$322,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$163,140 – $393,420+25.9%
15Child, Family, and School Social Workers$74,960
Bachelor's degree
$38,740 – $102,670+25.9%
16Chief Executives$268,030
Bachelor's degree
$156,010 – $486,310+25.3%
17Veterinarians$162,930
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,830 – $211,500+25.2%
18Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$60,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,050 – $95,130+25.1%
19Logisticians$102,700
Bachelor's degree
$62,800 – $156,750+24.8%
20Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$81,140
Bachelor's degree
$62,030 – $105,300+24.6%
21Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$131,880
Master's degree
$79,450 – $170,660+24.6%
22Firefighters$73,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,500 – $98,210+24.5%
23Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$129,880
Bachelor's degree
$80,350 – $169,930+24.5%
24Network and Computer Systems Administrators$122,950
Bachelor's degree
$74,430 – $192,160+24.0%
25Aerospace Engineers$166,980
Bachelor's degree
$99,450 – $249,340+23.7%
26Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,360
Bachelor's degree
$60,860 – $115,540+23.3%
27Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$124,590
Bachelor's degree
$59,660 – $170,980+23.2%
28Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$83,090
Master's degree
$52,910 – $108,160+21.7%
29Bus Drivers, School$57,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $59,710+20.7%
30Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$94,330
Associate's degree
$49,370 – $125,930+20.6%
31Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$74,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,960 – $91,510+20.6%
32Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$58,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,810 – $71,850+20.5%
33Graphic Designers$75,790
Bachelor's degree
$45,990 – $107,120+20.4%
34Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$79,710
Bachelor's degree
$62,150 – $109,770+20.3%
35Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$156,520
Bachelor's degree
$101,670 – $215,270+20.2%
36First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$75,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $102,790+20.0%
37Loan Interviewers and Clerks$59,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,550 – $74,960+19.8%
38Instructional Coordinators$92,600
Master's degree
$62,510 – $124,090+19.6%
39Computer Network Architects$160,340
Bachelor's degree
$99,110 – $218,400+19.6%
40Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$88,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $99,480+19.5%
41Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$76,400
Bachelor's degree
$49,420 – $102,080+19.4%
42School Psychologists$114,520
Master's degree
$74,460 – $135,780+19.3%
43Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$95,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,030 – $211,060+18.9%
44Dental Hygienists$116,130
Associate's degree
$102,750 – $125,040+18.4%
45Database Administrators$123,730
Bachelor's degree
$75,570 – $170,850+18.3%
46Business Operations Specialists, All Other$98,060
Bachelor's degree
$55,460 – $156,750+18.1%
47Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$73,940
Bachelor's degree
$57,290 – $104,650+18.0%
48First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$110,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,460 – $126,110+17.7%
49First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$124,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,720 – $160,590+17.6%
50Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$59,830
Bachelor's degree
$36,920 – $79,290+17.6%

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

#	Occupation	MedianBaltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$99,430	$57,450 – $149,220	+50.3%
2	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,700	$62,810 – $118,510	+37.0%
3	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$128,440	$77,160 – $189,970	+36.9%
4	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$107,140	$57,160 – $138,240	+36.7%
5	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$102,980	$55,910 – $171,440	+35.1%
6	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$128,410	$54,090 – $170,050	+34.9%
7	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$118,880	$65,070 – $185,220	+30.3%
8	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,930	$36,050 – $85,420	+30.0%
9	TutorsSome college, no degree	$56,200	$31,510 – $119,460	+29.6%
10	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$63,200	$41,890 – $83,700	+28.7%
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,700	$56,910 – $144,680	+26.5%
12	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,940	$68,440 – $121,100	+26.4%
13	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$307,400	$136,250 – $420,950	+25.9%
14	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$322,890	$163,140 – $393,420	+25.9%
15	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$74,960	$38,740 – $102,670	+25.9%
16	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$268,030	$156,010 – $486,310	+25.3%
17	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$162,930	$103,830 – $211,500	+25.2%
18	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,750	$38,050 – $95,130	+25.1%
19	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$102,700	$62,800 – $156,750	+24.8%
20	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$81,140	$62,030 – $105,300	+24.6%
21	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$131,880	$79,450 – $170,660	+24.6%
22	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,810	$48,500 – $98,210	+24.5%
23	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$129,880	$80,350 – $169,930	+24.5%
24	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$122,950	$74,430 – $192,160	+24.0%
25	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$166,980	$99,450 – $249,340	+23.7%
26	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$79,360	$60,860 – $115,540	+23.3%
27	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$124,590	$59,660 – $170,980	+23.2%
28	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$83,090	$52,910 – $108,160	+21.7%
29	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,850	$47,740 – $59,710	+20.7%
30	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,330	$49,370 – $125,930	+20.6%
31	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,470	$49,960 – $91,510	+20.6%
32	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,670	$49,810 – $71,850	+20.5%
33	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$75,790	$45,990 – $107,120	+20.4%
34	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$79,710	$62,150 – $109,770	+20.3%
35	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$156,520	$101,670 – $215,270	+20.2%
36	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,460	$47,860 – $102,790	+20.0%
37	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,930	$40,550 – $74,960	+19.8%
38	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$92,600	$62,510 – $124,090	+19.6%
39	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$160,340	$99,110 – $218,400	+19.6%
40	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,850	$52,000 – $99,480	+19.5%
41	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$76,400	$49,420 – $102,080	+19.4%
42	School PsychologistsMaster's degree	$114,520	$74,460 – $135,780	+19.3%
43	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$95,070	$54,030 – $211,060	+18.9%
44	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$116,130	$102,750 – $125,040	+18.4%
45	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$123,730	$75,570 – $170,850	+18.3%
46	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$98,060	$55,460 – $156,750	+18.1%
47	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$73,940	$57,290 – $104,650	+18.0%
48	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$110,060	$80,460 – $126,110	+17.7%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,660	$78,720 – $160,590	+17.6%
50	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$59,830	$36,920 – $79,290	+17.6%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

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