Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Maryland

Each occupation's median wage in Maryland 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 Maryland pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Health Education Specialists$104,470
Bachelor's degree
$56,160 – $161,470+63.1%
2Chemists$140,670
Bachelor's degree
$75,430 – $195,190+54.2%
3Interpreters and Translators$88,550
Bachelor's degree
$51,660 – $120,900+47.2%
4Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other$164,670
Master's degree
$101,710 – $195,190+42.9%
5Teachers and Instructors, All Other$94,070
Bachelor's degree
$46,780 – $131,810+42.2%
6Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$58,330
Bachelor's degree
$40,460 – $75,980+35.9%
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$126,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,200 – $188,700+35.1%
8Instructional Coordinators$102,220
Master's degree
$49,440 – $143,670+32.0%
9Education Administrators, All Other$125,500
Bachelor's degree
$52,700 – $170,980+31.8%
10Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$131,810
Bachelor's degree
$70,430 – $175,720+30.4%
11Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$88,570
Master's degree
$57,380 – $123,910+29.7%
12First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$120,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,460 – $141,870+28.9%
13Child, Family, and School Social Workers$76,390
Bachelor's degree
$41,240 – $105,570+28.3%
14Business Teachers, Postsecondary$126,560
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,460 – $205,950+27.7%
15Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$99,970
Associate's degree
$58,860 – $135,800+27.6%
16Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $99,220+27.2%
17Computer Network Support Specialists$96,680
Associate's degree
$52,870 – $170,830+26.8%
18Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$93,530
Bachelor's degree
$62,160 – $119,110+25.9%
19Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$100,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,960 – $121,100+25.8%
20Statisticians$132,620
Master's degree
$84,640 – $170,980+25.5%
21Veterinarians$163,170
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,030 – $214,960+25.4%
22Computer Programmers$125,570
Bachelor's degree
$74,470 – $158,880+25.1%
23Financial Specialists, All Other$101,400
Bachelor's degree
$49,260 – $156,750+25.0%
24Logisticians$102,700
Bachelor's degree
$64,090 – $156,750+24.8%
25Firefighters$73,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,030 – $98,770+24.5%
26Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$131,510
Master's degree
$81,060 – $172,170+24.2%
27Computer Occupations, All Other$144,680
Bachelor's degree
$69,910 – $185,220+24.1%
28Protective Service Workers, All Other$52,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $88,570+24.1%
29Microbiologists$108,470
Bachelor's degree
$59,260 – $185,520+23.3%
30Biological Scientists, All Other$121,680
Bachelor's degree
$75,240 – $195,000+23.0%
31Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$95,830
Associate's degree
$56,200 – $131,810+22.6%
32Business Operations Specialists, All Other$101,500
Bachelor's degree
$58,240 – $162,680+22.2%
33Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$73,580
Master's degree
$38,100 – $104,000+22.1%
34Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,510
Bachelor's degree
$59,890 – $115,540+22.0%
35Tutors$52,810
Some college, no degree
$32,330 – $105,040+21.8%
36Web Developers$112,690
Bachelor's degree
$61,690 – $155,830+21.6%
37Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$77,680
Bachelor's degree
$56,290 – $107,040+21.4%
38Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$78,850
Bachelor's degree
$60,720 – $121,310+21.1%
39Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$74,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,010 – $97,800+21.1%
40Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$75,910
Bachelor's degree
$56,520 – $108,360+21.1%
41Audio and Video Technicians$70,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,720 – $102,300+20.6%
42Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$58,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,810 – $71,850+19.9%
43Management Analysts$121,680
Bachelor's degree
$73,030 – $162,090+19.5%
44Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$155,650
Bachelor's degree
$100,960 – $207,480+19.5%
45Network and Computer Systems Administrators$118,290
Bachelor's degree
$71,990 – $177,720+19.3%
46Graphic Designers$75,120
Bachelor's degree
$44,810 – $109,630+19.3%
47Computer Network Architects$159,460
Bachelor's degree
$98,900 – $213,140+19.0%
48Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$58,420
No formal educational credential
$38,170 – $87,360+18.9%
49Database Administrators$124,300
Bachelor's degree
$73,650 – $172,110+18.8%
50Loan Interviewers and Clerks$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $76,550+18.8%

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	vs. national
1	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$104,470	$56,160 – $161,470	+63.1%
2	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$140,670	$75,430 – $195,190	+54.2%
3	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$88,550	$51,660 – $120,900	+47.2%
4	Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All OtherMaster's degree	$164,670	$101,710 – $195,190	+42.9%
5	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$94,070	$46,780 – $131,810	+42.2%
6	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$58,330	$40,460 – $75,980	+35.9%
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,730	$71,200 – $188,700	+35.1%
8	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$102,220	$49,440 – $143,670	+32.0%
9	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$125,500	$52,700 – $170,980	+31.8%
10	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$131,810	$70,430 – $175,720	+30.4%
11	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$88,570	$57,380 – $123,910	+29.7%
12	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$120,530	$80,460 – $141,870	+28.9%
13	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$76,390	$41,240 – $105,570	+28.3%
14	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$126,560	$62,460 – $205,950	+27.7%
15	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$99,970	$58,860 – $135,800	+27.6%
16	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$37,440 – $99,220	+27.2%
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$96,680	$52,870 – $170,830	+26.8%
18	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$93,530	$62,160 – $119,110	+25.9%
19	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,500	$65,960 – $121,100	+25.8%
20	StatisticiansMaster's degree	$132,620	$84,640 – $170,980	+25.5%
21	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$163,170	$104,030 – $214,960	+25.4%
22	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$125,570	$74,470 – $158,880	+25.1%
23	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$101,400	$49,260 – $156,750	+25.0%
24	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$102,700	$64,090 – $156,750	+24.8%
25	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,810	$48,030 – $98,770	+24.5%
26	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$131,510	$81,060 – $172,170	+24.2%
27	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$144,680	$69,910 – $185,220	+24.1%
28	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,780	$31,200 – $88,570	+24.1%
29	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$108,470	$59,260 – $185,520	+23.3%
30	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$121,680	$75,240 – $195,000	+23.0%
31	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$95,830	$56,200 – $131,810	+22.6%
32	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$101,500	$58,240 – $162,680	+22.2%
33	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$73,580	$38,100 – $104,000	+22.1%
34	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$78,510	$59,890 – $115,540	+22.0%
35	TutorsSome college, no degree	$52,810	$32,330 – $105,040	+21.8%
36	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$112,690	$61,690 – $155,830	+21.6%
37	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$77,680	$56,290 – $107,040	+21.4%
38	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,850	$60,720 – $121,310	+21.1%
39	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,790	$50,010 – $97,800	+21.1%
40	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$75,910	$56,520 – $108,360	+21.1%
41	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,040	$47,720 – $102,300	+20.6%
42	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,380	$49,810 – $71,850	+19.9%
43	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$121,680	$73,030 – $162,090	+19.5%
44	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$155,650	$100,960 – $207,480	+19.5%
45	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$118,290	$71,990 – $177,720	+19.3%
46	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$75,120	$44,810 – $109,630	+19.3%
47	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$159,460	$98,900 – $213,140	+19.0%
48	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$58,420	$38,170 – $87,360	+18.9%
49	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$124,300	$73,650 – $172,110	+18.8%
50	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$45,560 – $76,550	+18.8%

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 pay the biggest premium in Maryland

More for Maryland

Metro areas in Maryland

By field in Maryland

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state