Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Maryland make a median of $125,570 a year, or about $60.37 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $127,147 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $126K actually covers in Maryland, month by month
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for computer programmers, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,795/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Maryland offers a genuinely strong financial position for computer programmers at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers salary by metro in Maryland
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $113K | -10% | 110 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $106K | -15% | 780 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $90K | -28% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,784/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Maryland?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $126K here vs. $100K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Maryland pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Maryland?
The median is $125,570 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,470, and experienced computer programmers can clear $158,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,561/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 23.7% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $127,147 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.