Lawyers Salary
Lawyers in Maryland make a median of $139,110 a year, or about $66.88 an hour. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $269K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $140,857 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $139K get you in Maryland?
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What this looks like in Maryland
Pay for lawyers in Maryland runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,795/month, 21.7% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Maryland can be a reasonable trade-off for lawyerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level lawyers (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $269K or more, a $187K spread from bottom to top.
Lawyers salary by metro in Maryland
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $144K | +3% | 200 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $132K | -5% | 7,520 |
| Salisbury | $127K | -8% | 150 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $109K | -22% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track lawyers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 21.7% 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 lawyers in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lawyers typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,904/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lawyer a high-paying job in Maryland?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $139K here vs. $160K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for lawyers?
Maryland pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — below the national median.
How much do lawyers make in Maryland?
The median is $139,110 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,730, and experienced lawyers can clear $269,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,273/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 21.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lawyers 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 lawyers salary is worth about $140,857 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lawyers 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.