Lawyer Salary in Baltimore, MD
Lawyers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $132,400 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,769 take-home, or $7,981 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median lawyer salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,510
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,209
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,920
- Maryland income tax$5,992
- Take-home pay$95,769
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.25% state
Living in Baltimore City? City residents also pay Baltimore City’s city income tax — about $4,027 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $91,742 ($7,645 a month). Choose “Baltimore City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Lawyer pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,620 | $41.16 | $65,360 | $5,447 |
| 25th percentile | $101,920 | $49.00 | $76,053 | $6,338 |
| Median (50th) | $132,400 | $63.65 | $95,769 | $7,981 |
| 75th percentile | $174,120 | $83.71 | $122,051 | $10,171 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $264,130+ | $126.99 | $179,262 | $14,939 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,400 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $95,769 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,657 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lawyer jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #46 of 47 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | $139,838 | $120,953 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $157,980 | $119,245 | $120,903 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $170,660 | $122,673 | $119,618 |
| 46 | Baltimore, MD | $132,400 | $95,769 | $91,657 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 47 metros →
About the job: lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Baltimore, MD?
The median lawyer salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $132,400 a year, or about $63.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,920 and $174,120.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $132,400 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $95,769 a year ($7,981 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,992 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,657 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #46 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $65,640