Lawyer salary in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Lawyers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median of $132,400 a year ($63.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $264,130 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 5% lower than the Maryland statewide median of $139,110. There are 5.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $154,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,620 | $41.16 |
| 25th percentile | $101,920 | $49.00 |
| Median | $132,400 | $63.66 |
| 75th percentile | $174,120 | $83.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $264,130 | $126.98 |
| Average (mean) | $154,190 | $74.13 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,033.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,516.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,092.31 |
| Weekly | $2,546.15 |
| Hourly | $63.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $195,190 | 46,840 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $170,660 | 19,040 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $143,760 | 200 |
| Salisbury, MD | $127,450 | 150 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $108,530 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the Maryland statewide figures.
Related jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $130,940 | $62.95 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $70,110 | $33.71 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $191,320 | $91.98 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $49,110 | $23.61 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $65,640 | $31.56 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $53,350 | $25.65 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median salary for lawyers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $132,400 a year, or $63.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $264,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn at least $264,130 a year. The top 25% earn $174,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,620 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $101,920 or less.
How many lawyers work in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
About 7,520 lawyers are employed in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, not counting the self-employed.