The average registered nurse salary in Maryland is $99,010 per year. That figure sits 2.4% below the national mean of $101,420, which means Maryland is a moderately cost-effective market relative to the national baseline. Use the median of $99,790 alongside the average when building your compensation range, since both figures are close and together give you a reliable anchor.
Registered nurse salary in Maryland (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in Maryland is $99,010 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $99,790 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Maryland employs 52,910 registered nurses, and the $780 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in Maryland typically earn around $76,780, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $124,790 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in Maryland, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $99,790 |
Average Annual Salary | $99,010 |
vs. National Average | 2.4% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 52,910 employed registered nurses across Maryland.
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $76,780 |
25th Percentile | $83,740 |
75th Percentile | $107,340 |
90th Percentile | $124,790 |
Employers hiring entry-level registered nurses in Maryland should expect offers in the $76,780 to $83,740 range, while experienced specialists will typically require compensation closer to $107,340 or above. Roles requiring advanced specialization or significant experience can command $124,790 or more, so build that ceiling into your budget before extending an offer to senior candidates.
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a registered nurse in Maryland, so factor geography into your compensation plan before posting a role. The Washington DC metro area averages $104,590, which is $13,220 above the Salisbury market at $91,370. If you are hiring near the DC corridor, expect to budget noticeably higher than you would for a position in the state's more rural markets.
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Maryland | $99,010 | $99,790 |
New York | $113,440 | $109,440 |
New Jersey | $110,100 | $106,500 |
District of Columbia | $106,980 | $102,540 |
Pennsylvania | $94,020 | $96,430 |
Virginia | $93,850 | $93,600 |
Maryland sits in a mid-range position among its regional peers, making it a more cost-effective market than New York or New Jersey but more expensive than Virginia or Pennsylvania. Maryland's average of $99,010 falls below New York's $113,440 and New Jersey's $110,100, but it exceeds Virginia's $93,850 and Pennsylvania's $94,020. Employers in Maryland can expect compensation expectations that are meaningfully lower than the highest-cost Northeast markets while still running above the neighboring mid-Atlantic states to the south and west.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in Maryland
What is the average registered nurse salary in Maryland?
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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