Computer Programmer Salary in Baltimore, MD
Computer Programmers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $106,420 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,005 take-home, or $6,584 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,582
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,598
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,543
- Maryland income tax$4,691
- Take-home pay$79,005
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.75% state
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,330 | $33.81 | $55,330 | $4,611 |
| 25th percentile | $83,010 | $39.91 | $63,648 | $5,304 |
| Median (50th) | $106,420 | $51.16 | $79,005 | $6,584 |
| 75th percentile | $134,960 | $64.88 | $97,385 | $8,115 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $178,840 | $85.98 | $125,017 | $10,418 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,420 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 computer programmer's $79,005 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,612 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #20 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $106,420 | $79,005 | $75,612 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Baltimore, MD?
The median computer programmer salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $106,420 a year, or about $51.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,010 and $134,960.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $106,420 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $79,005 a year ($6,584 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,691 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,612 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #20 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer 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) — 23% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Computer Network Architect — $160,340
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $156,750
- Software Developer — $138,900
- Information Security Analyst — $138,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $135,600
- Data Scientist — $134,320
- Database Architect — $132,940
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $129,880
- Database Administrator — $123,730
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $122,950
- Computer Systems Analyst — $108,980
- Web Developer — $107,590