Lawyer salary in Maryland
Lawyers in Maryland earn a median of $139,110 a year ($66.88 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $269,020 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $159,670. Maryland ranks 17th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 5.0 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $157,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,730 | $39.29 |
| 25th percentile | $102,270 | $49.17 |
| Median | $139,110 | $66.88 |
| 75th percentile | $185,220 | $89.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $269,020 | $129.34 |
| Average (mean) | $157,370 | $75.66 |
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 | $11,592.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,796.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,350.38 |
| Weekly | $2,675.19 |
| Hourly | $66.88 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Maryland
| 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 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $132,400 | 7,520 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $133,460 | $64.16 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $70,110 | $33.71 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $172,190 | $82.78 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $65,640 | $31.56 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $55,460 | $26.66 |
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 Maryland?
The median salary for lawyers in Maryland is $139,110 a year, or $66.88 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $269,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Maryland?
The top 10% of lawyers in Maryland earn at least $269,020 a year. The top 25% earn $185,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,730 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $102,270 or less.
How many lawyers work in Maryland?
About 13,810 lawyers are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.