Is Maryland a good state for your salary to go far?

Maryland ranks #30 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 98.7 across 370 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 105.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Maryland?

Maryland's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 105.0, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Maryland

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Maryland

Maryland ranks #30 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 98.7, base = 100). Cost of living 105.0 (US = 100); top income tax 5.75%.

Does a salary go further in Maryland? (cost of living + state tax)

In Maryland, the cost of living is 105.0 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 98.7 across 370 occupations, ranking it #30 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Maryland ranks #30 of 51 states. Mean across 370 occupations; 100 = the average state, 98.7 means pay goes -1.3% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

98.7

Real pay by occupation in Maryland (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Health Education Specialists	$104,470	$95,123	145.0
Chemists	$140,670	$127,869	140.0
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	$94,070	$85,685	129.4
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$126,730	$115,275	129.1
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	$131,810	$119,870	128.8
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$63,460	$57,907	126.8
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers	$120,530	$109,663	126.8
Computer Occupations, All Other	$144,680	$131,489	124.6
Biological Scientists, All Other	$121,680	$110,704	124.1
Instructional Coordinators	$102,220	$93,081	123.0
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School	$93,530	$85,195	122.4
Education Administrators, All Other	$125,500	$114,161	122.0
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$126,560	$115,121	121.8
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	$155,650	$141,392	121.5
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	$88,570	$80,694	120.5
Veterinarians	$163,170	$148,163	119.8
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	$76,390	$69,641	118.4
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	$99,970	$91,040	118.3
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers	$73,580	$67,091	118.1
Audio and Video Technicians	$70,040	$63,878	118.1
Firefighters	$73,810	$67,299	117.8
Data Scientists	$136,370	$123,987	117.0
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	$100,500	$91,520	116.8
School Psychologists	$109,700	$99,860	116.7
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	$118,290	$107,635	115.9
Computer Network Architects	$159,460	$144,822	115.7
Financial Specialists, All Other	$101,400	$92,337	115.4
Library Assistants, Clerical	$45,910	$41,980	115.1
Management Analysts	$121,680	$110,704	114.1
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	$101,430	$92,364	113.9
Graphic Designers	$75,120	$68,488	113.8
Database Administrators	$124,300	$113,075	112.9
Business Operations Specialists, All Other	$101,500	$92,428	112.8
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	$95,560	$87,037	112.8
Logisticians	$102,700	$93,517	112.8
Tutors	$52,810	$48,242	111.9
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity	$65,220	$59,504	111.8
Optometrists	$165,840	$150,567	111.7
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	$110,510	$100,594	111.2
Crane and Tower Operators	$87,950	$80,131	110.9

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 370 BLS publishes for Maryland. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (105.0, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Maryland, a $85,000 salary is worth about $76,327 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $4,888 (≈ top marginal 5.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $80,113 · BEA cost of living 105.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $19,625 gain over Maryland.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Maryland real pay — FAQ

Is Maryland a good state for your salary to go far?: Maryland ranks #30 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 98.7 across 370 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 105.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Maryland?: Maryland's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 105.0, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Maryland is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.