Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD make a median of $106,420 a year, or about $51.16 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $179K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $101,847 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,857/month, or 28.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $106K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Computer programmers pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,857/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer programmers in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $113K | $112K |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $90K | $96K |
| Charlottesville | $110K | $111K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $130K | $120K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $179K or more, a $109K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Programmers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $134K | +33% | 1,650 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +28% | 1,930 |
| Washington | $126K | +25% | 2,540 |
| Maryland | $126K | +25% | 2,490 |
| Virginia | $122K | +21% | 3,070 |
| Hawaii | $118K | +18% | 450 |
| California | $117K | +16% | 11,340 |
| Arkansas | $112K | +11% | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +7% | 2,070 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +5% | 3,930 |
| Utah | $105K | +4% | 690 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 930 |
| New York | $104K | +4% | 7,020 |
| Maine | $102K | +1% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $100K | -1% | 990 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -1% | 790 |
| Oregon | $100K | -1% | 1,370 |
| Texas | $99K | -1% | 7,620 |
| Georgia | $98K | -2% | 1,890 |
| Indiana | $97K | -3% | 1,520 |
| Rhode Island | $96K | -4% | 250 |
| Nebraska | $95K | -5% | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $95K | -6% | 950 |
| Alabama | $94K | -7% | 890 |
| Nevada | $94K | -7% | 840 |
| Florida | $93K | -7% | 4,760 |
| Kansas | $93K | -7% | 460 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 190 |
| Alaska | $92K | -9% | 530 |
| Missouri | $90K | -10% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $90K | -10% | N/A |
| Vermont | $90K | -11% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $89K | -11% | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $89K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $89K | -11% | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $85K | -15% | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $85K | -15% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -17% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -19% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 4,120 |
| Iowa | $79K | -21% | 950 |
| New Hampshire | $74K | -26% | N/A |
| Illinois | $73K | -28% | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $66K | -34% | 4,400 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -35% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -42% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer programmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 28.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,220/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $106,420 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,330, and experienced computer programmers can clear $178,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,530/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 28.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $101,847 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.