Paralegal salary in Baltimore-Columbia, MD
No other area in Maryland pays paralegals more than Baltimore-Columbia: the median is $65,640 a year1. That is about level with the Maryland statewide median of $65,640, and 4.4% above the US median of $62,890. Nationally that is #47 of 506 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Maryland: about 3,880 people, 60% of the Maryland total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, 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 | $49,930 | $65,640 | $97,510 | |
| Maryland | $48,260 | $65,640 | $108,380 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Baltimore-Columbia earns $51,660–$81,560. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $97,510, only 2.0 times the bottom tenth, against 2.3 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($71,010) 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 $29,900 wide, between the figure for Maryland ($33,040) and the US figure ($29,740).
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,930 | $4,161 | $24.00 | $64,426 |
| 25th percentile | $51,660 | $4,305 | $24.84 | $66,658 |
| Median | $65,640 | $5,470 | $31.56 | $84,697 |
| 75th percentile | $81,560 | $6,797 | $39.21 | $105,239 |
| 90th percentile | $97,510 | $8,126 | $46.88 | $125,819 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $13,980 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $15,920, or about $20,542 once benefits are added. 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 $62,890 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Baltimore-Columbia, and the Maryland statewide median of $65,640 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Baltimore-Columbia
At the $65,640 median, a local hire costs about $84,697 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $19,057 here. 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 paralegals 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 #7 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($74,620) and sales development representatives ($61,840). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,720.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Manager | +15.2% | 15,070 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +13.7% | 5,920 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 3,880 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -5.8% | 11,340 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -8.1% | 840 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Baltimore-Columbia (+4.4%), between e-commerce order specialists (+4.8%) and medical administrative assistants (+3.8%). The typical role here is at +3.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Paralegals hold 2.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Baltimore-Columbia, 2.1% across Maryland and 2.5% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Maryland
Across the 5 areas of Maryland with data for this job, the median runs from $50,420 in Salisbury to $65,640 in Baltimore-Columbia, a gap of $15,220 a year. No other area in Maryland has as many paralegals, and all 4 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Baltimore-Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | this area | 3,880 | |
| Lexington Park, MD | -2.8% | 100 | |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | -3.6% | 330 | |
| Maryland (Nonmetro) | -8.7% | 80 | |
| Salisbury, MD | -23.2% | 80 |
Baltimore-Columbia against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Baltimore-Columbia is #22 of 503 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Maryland, Springfield and Boulder pay just above Baltimore-Columbia and Colorado Springs and New Orleans-Metairie just below. All four are within $860 a year of the median in Baltimore-Columbia. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Baltimore-Columbia | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | +22.6% | 3,740 | jobs | |
| Boulder, CO | +0.7% | 400 | pay | |
| Springfield, MA | +0.3% | 430 | pay | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | this area | 3,880 | ||
| Colorado Springs, CO | -1.2% | 560 | pay | |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -1.3% | 2,120 | pay | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -5.6% | 4,030 | jobs | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | -8.8% | 4,140 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Baltimore-Columbia, MD?
About $84,697 a year at the median, or $7,058 a month: $65,640 in pay plus about $19,057 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for paralegals in Baltimore-Columbia?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $65,640 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,930, the 90th $97,510, and the middle half earned $51,660 to $81,560.
Is Baltimore-Columbia the most expensive area in Maryland for paralegals?
Yes. Its median of $65,640 is the highest of 5 areas in Maryland. Lexington Park comes next at $63,770.
How many paralegals work in Baltimore-Columbia?
BLS counts about 3,880 in the May 2025 survey. That is 60% of the Maryland total of 6,460. No other area in Maryland has as many.
Does a paralegal cost more than a sales development representative in Baltimore-Columbia?
Yes: $3,800 a year more at the median. The medians are $65,640 and $61,840.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: 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.