Software Developer Salary in Baltimore, MD
Software Developers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $138,900 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $99,871 take-home, or $8,323 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,070
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,612
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,014
- Maryland income tax$6,333
- Take-home pay$99,871
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.25% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,290 | $41.97 | $66,456 | $5,538 |
| 25th percentile | $105,670 | $50.80 | $78,513 | $6,543 |
| Median (50th) | $138,900 | $66.78 | $99,871 | $8,323 |
| 75th percentile | $200,910 | $96.59 | $139,897 | $11,658 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $223,550 | $107.48 | $154,873 | $12,906 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $138,900 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 software developer's $99,871 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,582 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #83 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 83 | Baltimore, MD | $138,900 | $99,871 | $95,582 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Maryland
- Lexington Park, MD — $132,850
- Hagerstown, MD — $122,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Baltimore, MD?
The median software developer salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $138,900 a year, or about $66.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $105,670 and $200,910.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $138,900 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $99,871 a year ($8,323 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,333 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,582 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #83 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 18% of a median software developer’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
- 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
- Computer Programmer — $106,420