Data Entry Specialist salary in Baltimore-Columbia, MD
No other area in Maryland pays data entry specialists more than Baltimore-Columbia: the median is $38,340 a year1. That is 1.6% below the Maryland statewide median of $38,970, and 7.3% below the US median of $41,340. Nationally it ranks #234 of 394 areas. It is the largest market for the job in Maryland: about 860 people, 46% of the Maryland total.
BLS occupation 43-9021, area Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Baltimore-Columbia against Maryland and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | $33,030 | $38,340 | $56,220 | |
| Maryland | $31,200 | $38,970 | $56,490 | |
| United States | $31,200 | $41,340 | $58,790 |
The middle half of data entry specialists in Baltimore-Columbia earns $34,270–$45,140. The top tenth earns $56,220 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.9 times. The mean ($41,530) is 8% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $10,870 wide, between the figure for Maryland ($8,860) and the US figure ($12,650).
What to budget for a data entry specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,030 | $2,752 | $15.88 | $42,619 |
| 25th percentile | $34,270 | $2,856 | $16.48 | $44,219 |
| Median | $38,340 | $3,195 | $18.43 | $49,471 |
| 75th percentile | $45,140 | $3,762 | $21.70 | $58,245 |
| 90th percentile | $56,220 | $4,685 | $27.03 | $72,542 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,800 over the median, the 25th only $4,070 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,774 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $41,340 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Baltimore-Columbia, and the Maryland statewide median of $38,970 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Baltimore-Columbia
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $11,131 to the $38,340 median and brings it to $49,471 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for data entry specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Baltimore-Columbia
Of the 17 roles we track in Baltimore-Columbia, this one ranks #16 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($42,850) and virtual receptionists ($37,600). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,720.
| Role | Median | vs data entry specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +26.2% | 320 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +24.4% | 8,640 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +11.8% | 17,480 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | this role | 860 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.9% | 8,660 |
Measured against the US median, data entry specialists rank #16 of the 17 roles we track in Baltimore-Columbia (-7.3%), between marketing specialists (-5.3%) and sales development representatives (-11.6%). The typical role here is at +3.5%, so, measured against the US, data entry specialists cost less in Baltimore-Columbia than the area's general pay level would suggest. Data entry specialists hold 0.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Baltimore-Columbia, 0.6% across Maryland and 0.8% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Maryland
Across the 3 areas of Maryland with data for this job, the median runs from $32,340 in Hagerstown-Martinsburg to $38,340 in Baltimore-Columbia, a gap of $6,000 a year. No other area in Maryland has as many data entry specialists, and both others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Baltimore-Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | this area | 860 | |
| Maryland (Nonmetro) | -0.9% | 40 | |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | -15.6% | 120 |
Baltimore-Columbia against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Baltimore-Columbia is #28 of 389 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Maryland, Spartanburg and Evansville pay just above Baltimore-Columbia and Vineland and Birmingham just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Baltimore-Columbia. Of the three markets with about as many data entry specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Baltimore-Columbia | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA | +11.5% | 880 | jobs | |
| Cleveland, OH | +6.9% | 900 | jobs | |
| Indianapolis-Carmel, IN | +5.8% | 850 | jobs | |
| Evansville, IN | +0.1% | 90 | pay | |
| Spartanburg, SC | +0.1% | 80 | pay | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | this area | 860 | ||
| Vineland, NJ | -0.0% | 50 | pay | |
| Birmingham, AL | -0.1% | 220 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a data entry specialist in Baltimore-Columbia, MD?
About $49,471 a year at the median, or $4,123 a month: $38,340 in pay plus about $11,131 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for data entry specialists in Baltimore-Columbia?
The median was $38,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,030, the 90th $56,220, and the middle half earned $34,270 to $45,140.
Is Baltimore-Columbia the most expensive area in Maryland for data entry specialists?
Yes. Its median of $38,340 is the highest of 3 areas in Maryland. The Maryland nonmetro area comes next at $38,000.
How many data entry specialists work in Baltimore-Columbia?
BLS counts about 860 in the May 2025 survey. That is 46% of the Maryland total of 1,850. No other area in Maryland has as many.
Does a data entry specialist cost more than a virtual receptionist in Baltimore-Columbia?
Yes: $740 a year more at the median. The medians are $38,340 and $37,600.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-9021: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.