Lawyers pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,620 a year or less, while the top 10% make $264,130 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Baltimore earn between $101,920 and $174,120.
- $86K10th
- $102K25th
- $132KMedian
- $174K75th
- $264K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $154,190 | $12,849 | $74.13 |
| Median | $132,400 | $11,033 | $63.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $101,920 | $8,493 | $49.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $174,120 | $14,510 | $83.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Lawyers in Baltimore earn about the same as the Maryland average ($157,370) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $154,190 | $132,400 | $85,620 | $264,130 | 7,520 |
| Maryland | $157,370 | $139,110 | $81,730 | $269,020 | 13,810 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Baltimore
On the average salary of $154,190, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $109,349 a year, or $9,112 a month and $4,206 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $154,190 buys what about $147,569 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Maryland cities
Baltimore ranks 1st of 4 Maryland metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Baltimore$154,190
- Lexington Park$147,220
- Salisbury$144,560
- Hagerstown$121,120
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Lawyers salary in Baltimore: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Baltimore?
$74.13 an hour on average, and $63.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,620 a year and the 25th percentile is $101,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $109,349 a year ($9,112 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $154,190. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do lawyers earn more in Baltimore than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.