Tax Preparer Salary in Baltimore, MD
Tax Preparers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $56,160 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,001 take-home, or $3,750 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tax preparer salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,559
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,482
- Medicare (1.45%)$814
- Maryland income tax$2,304
- Take-home pay$45,001
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Tax Preparer pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,700 | $18.13 | $31,045 | $2,587 |
| 25th percentile | $43,760 | $21.04 | $35,626 | $2,969 |
| Median (50th) | $56,160 | $27.00 | $45,001 | $3,750 |
| 75th percentile | $61,570 | $29.60 | $49,091 | $4,091 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,980 | $33.64 | $55,101 | $4,592 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,160 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 tax preparer's $45,001 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,068 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tax Preparer jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for tax preparers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #16 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $78,920 | $61,578 | $66,540 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $81,180 | $61,565 | $55,753 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,240 | $63,393 | $54,832 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,920 | $53,863 | $53,399 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,170 | $50,527 | $50,418 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $71,300 | $55,736 | $49,516 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $65,150 | $52,370 | $49,507 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $70,170 | $54,881 | $49,050 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $56,160 | $45,001 | $43,068 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Baltimore, MD?
The median tax preparer salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $56,160 a year, or about $27.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,760 and $61,570.
What is a tax preparer’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $56,160 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $45,001 a year ($3,750 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,304 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a tax preparer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $54,920. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,068 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #16 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tax preparer 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) — 40% of a median tax preparer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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