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
Living in Baltimore City? City residents also pay Baltimore City’s city income tax — about $4,235 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $95,636 ($7,970 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 →
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 #45 of 72 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 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 6 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $186,640 | $123,413 | $106,747 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $134,120 | $102,937 | $104,967 |
| 45 | 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 72 metros →
About the job: software developers
Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +10.2% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
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 #45 of 72 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
- Information Security Analyst — $138,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $135,600
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $129,880
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $122,950
- Computer Systems Analyst — $108,980
- Computer Network Support Specialist — $102,980
- Operations Research Analyst — $94,440
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,950