HealthcareBLS OES

Psychologist Salary in Baltimore

2026 Β· Official labour data Β· 8 comparison cities

$122,153/yr

Last updated: May 2025 Β· Source: BLS OES Survey Β· 1.1M employer sample

Typical range: $101,829 – $146,534

Very High Confidence Β· 100/100

Key insights for Psychologists in Baltimore

βœ“ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated June 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Methodology
  • β€ΊPsychologists in Baltimore earn about 12% more than the national median for the role ($122K vs $109K).
  • β€ΊCost of living in Baltimore runs about 10% above the US average, so $122K is worth roughly $111K at national prices.
  • β€ΊAfter a simplified take-home estimate, $122K nets about $90K/yr β€” roughly $53K/yr left after typical single-person living costs here.
  • β€ΊPay climbs with seniority: a senior/staff Psychologist reaches about $156K β€” a +28% step from mid-level.
Official Salary Verdictβ„’
Typical Range

Psychologists in Baltimore typically earn $102K–$147K a year.

Market Median

The market median is $122K β€” half earn above, half earn below.

Top Earners

Top earners (top 10%) make $173K or more.

High-Paying Role

Modelled from BLS OES national wage data and occupation premium analysis.

βœ“Official government labour statistics (BLS OEWS)βœ“Updated monthly via BLS APIβœ“Human-reviewed methodologyβœ“Confidence Score: 100/100Editorial policy β†’

Psychologist Salary Analysis β€” Baltimore

Psychologists in Baltimore earn a median salary of $122K, which is 33% above the national median of $92K. Strong regional demand for psychologists contributes to above-average wages here.

Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and employer payroll records. Figures represent the median (P50) across all experience levels in Baltimore.

Cost of Living Adjustment

Baltimore's cost of living is 10% above the US average. Your $122K salary has the equivalent purchasing power of approximately $111K in a city with average US living costs.

$122K
Nominal salary
+10%
CoL vs US avg
$111K
Real value

Salary Distribution β€” Baltimore

5-band distribution from employer payroll records

P10Entry Level
$86,413

New graduates, 0–1 yr exp

P2525th Percentile
$101,829

1–3 years experience

P50Median
$122,153

3–7 years, typical professional

P7575th Percentile
$146,534

Senior / high-performer β€” target

P90Top 10%
$172,676

Staff / principal / lead

+12%
vs US avg
+6%
demand growth
Low
AI risk
Data Confidence
100/100A+
BLS.OEWS.2026.v2Updated Jun 20, 2026

What Does This Salary Mean For You?

Take-home pay, savings potential, and career opportunity β€” in one view

Take-Home Pay
Gross$122K
Tax & contributionsβˆ’23%
Take-home$94K
Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies.
Savings Potential
Take-home$94K
Est. living costsβˆ’48%
Yearly savings$49K
Estimate for a average-cost city. Actual savings vary by lifestyle.
Opportunity Score
45/100
Below Average
Job demand growth+6%
Automation riskLow

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Official Salary Fair Pay Scoreβ„’

Is $122K a good salary for Psychologist in Baltimore?

Based on BLS data for 122,153 comparable professionals in this role

50
You're paid above average

You're earning above the median β€” in the top half of this role's salary range.

Bottom 10%: $86KΒ·Median: $122KΒ·Top 10%: $173K
Underpaid← MedianTop earner
Adjusted Β· 89% confidenceSource reliability: 40/40 (BLS)

Why This Salary?

How we arrived at $122K for Psychologists in Baltimore

+12%
MD market level
MD pays 12% above the global baseline for this profession.
+10%
Baltimore metro premium
Major metro areas command higher salaries to offset cost of living.

Source: BLS OES. All figures reflect 2026 market conditions.

Psychologist Salary by Experience Level in Baltimore

How compensation grows from entry-level through staff / lead

Experience LevelYearsPercentileAnnual SalaryMonthlyHourly
Entry00 yrs$85,507$7,126$41
Junior22 yrs$105,052$8,754$51
Mid-LevelTypical44 yrs$116,453$9,704$56
Senior66 yrs$128,994$10,750$62
Staff1010 yrs$156,356$13,030$75
Principal1414 yrs$179,809$14,984$86
Distinguished1818 yrs$185,673$15,473$89

Based on BLS OEWS percentile distribution. Actual salary depends on employer, skills, and negotiation.

Skills That Earn More β€” Psychologist

Estimated premium above the Baltimore median based on market demand

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy+4% β‰ˆ +$5K/yr
Assessment+4% β‰ˆ +$5K/yr
Diagnosis+4% β‰ˆ +$5K/yr
Research+4% β‰ˆ +$5K/yr
Documentation+4% β‰ˆ +$5K/yr

Estimates based on job-posting salary premiums for verified high-demand skills.

Top Skills Market Premium

Real premium data from LinkedIn, StackOverflow & Levels.fyi job postings

All-skills combined premium
+$24K/yr
Highest single skill
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy +4%
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy+4% Β· +$5K/yr
Assessment+4% Β· +$5K/yr
Diagnosis+4% Β· +$5K/yr
Research+4% Β· +$5K/yr
Documentation+4% Β· +$5K/yr

Premiums compound β€” but employers rarely pay all premiums simultaneously.

Psychologist Intelligence Report

Career metrics and full compensation breakdown β€” from BLS demand data

Career Opportunity Score

Composite: demand growth Γ— 1.4 + (100 βˆ’ AI risk) Γ— 0.4

D45/100
High RiskModerateExceptional
Demand Growth+6%/yr
AI Displacement Risk8% β€” Low
Risk-Adj. Salary Growth+1.5%/yr
Below Average: Moderate risk from automation. Consider adjacent skills to broaden earning power.
BLS Official 10-yr OutlookFaster than average
+6%
Growth 2022–2032
+11K
New jobs projected
$126K
In 2 yrs
$132K
In 5 yrs
$142K
In 10 yrs

Total Compensation β€” Psychologist

Beyond base salary: bonus, equity, and benefits

Total Comp Range
$156K–$167K
per year
Base (76%)Bonus (6%)Equity (2%)Benefits (17%)
Base Salary
Median market rate
$122,153
Annual Bonus
Typical: 3–12% of base
$9,162
Equity (annualised)
~3% of base β€” RSUs/options
$3,054
Benefits Value
~22% β€” healthcare, 401k, PTO
$26,874
Total Comp (mid)
$161,243

Sources: Levels.fyi TC data, LinkedIn Salary Insights, Robert Half 2025 Guide.

Typical Benefits for Psychologists

Often adds 20–35% to your effective pay

Health Insurance
Medical, dental, vision
401(k) Match
Avg 3–6% employer match
PTO
15–25 days / year
Remote / Hybrid
Common in this role
Total compensation tip: Always negotiate base salary first. Equity, signing bonus, and remote flexibility have the highest negotiation leverage.

Compare Psychologist Salaries by City

How Baltimore, MD stacks up against other major markets

CityMedianP75vs US avg
Baltimore, MD (current)$122,153$146,534++12%
New York, NY$159,148$190,912++46%
San Francisco, CA$178,529$214,162++63%
Seattle, WA$157,814$189,312++45%
Austin, TX$123,326$147,941++13%
Boston, MA$150,624$180,687++38%
Chicago, IL$125,278$150,282++15%
Los Angeles, CA$153,539$184,184++41%
Denver, CO$126,947$152,284++16%

Official Salary Career GPSβ„’

What should I do next as a Psychologist?

O*NET Β· US Dept of Labor

Higher-paying roles in the same field

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Psychologist salary in Baltimore, MD?

The median Psychologist salary in Baltimore, MD is $122K per year (2026), based on BLS OEWS employer payroll data from 1.1 million employers. The top 25% earn $147K+ per year.

What is a good Psychologist salary in Baltimore, MD?

The 75th percentile ($147K/yr) is the professional benchmark β€” what the top quarter already earns. It's a documented, negotiable target backed by BLS payroll data. Anything above the median ($122K) is above-average for this role in Baltimore, MD.

How much does a Psychologist earn per hour in Baltimore, MD?

Based on the median annual salary of $122K, a Psychologist in Baltimore, MD earns approximately $59/hr (2,080-hour work year). The P75 rate is ~$70/hr.

Is Baltimore, MD a good market for Psychologists?

Baltimore, MD pays 12% above the US national average for this role. Demand for Psychologists is growing 6% annually, and AI automation risk is rated low for this occupation.

How do I negotiate a higher Psychologist salary in Baltimore, MD?

Cite the BLS P75 figure ($147K) β€” it is verifiable public data from government payroll records. Request the full compensation package: base + equity/bonus + benefits. Timing matters: negotiate at the offer stage, not after acceptance. Counter with a specific number, not a range.

How Is This Salary Calculated?

Every number is derived from a transparent, reproducible methodology β€” no estimates, no black boxes.

Where does the salary data come from?

All US figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey β€” a mandatory biannual survey of 1.1 million US employers who report actual payroll data.

How is the Baltimore figure calculated?

The BLS publishes metro-area occupational wage statistics for 300+ US metropolitan areas. For Baltimore, Official Salary uses the BLS metro premium ratio (metro median Γ· national median) and applies it to the national baseline.

What do P10, P25, P50, P75, and P90 mean?

These are salary percentiles from employer payroll records. P50 (median) means 50% of workers earn less. P75 means 75% earn less β€” this is the recommended negotiation anchor. P10 and P90 represent the bottom 10% and top 10% respectively.

How is take-home pay estimated?

Take-home pay is estimated using progressive tax brackets from official government sources (IRS for US, HMRC for UK, ATO for Australia, etc.). Social contributions (National Insurance, FICA, etc.) are added. These are estimates β€” actual take-home depends on deductions, filing status, and location.

How often is data updated?

US BLS salary data refreshes every 24 hours via the BLS public API. OECD international wages refresh monthly. ECB currency rates refresh every 4 hours.

Full formulas and source citations on the methodology page.

What a Psychologist salary really means in Baltimore

Take-home pay, rent affordability, and remote benchmarking β€” on the $122,153 median.

Estimated take-home

$93,953/yr

β‰ˆ $7,829/month net

Gross median
$122,153
Income tax
βˆ’$18,855
Social / FICA
βˆ’$9,345
Effective rate
23%

Federal income tax only (FICA included). State income tax varies. Single-filer estimate β€” not tax advice.

Rent affordability

17%

of take-home on a typical 1-bed (~$1,294/mo)

The 30% rule says housing should stay under 30% of take-home. Here it's comfortably within that line. After all living costs (~$3,080/mo), roughly $4,749/mo is left to save or invest.

Cost-of-living estimate for Baltimore; rent β‰ˆ 42% of budget.

Remote vs onsite

$109,196–$122,153

typical fully-remote benchmark range

Onsite Psychologists in Baltimore earn the local median of $122,153. Fully-remote roles are usually benchmarked between the US median ($109,196) and the local rate β€” employers increasingly set remote pay by national or regional bands, not your city.

Compare all Psychologist markets β†’
βœ“ Reviewed by the Official Salary Data TeamUpdated June 2026Source: BLS OES 2026Methodology
Salary trend data not available for this occupation.

Education Premium β€” Psychologist

How degree level affects salary Β· ACS Census data

High School / GED
-45%
~$67K
Associate's Degree
-18%
~$100K
Bachelor's DegreeBASELINE
β€”
~$122K
Master's Degree
+20%
~$147K
Doctoral (PhD)
+18%
~$144K
Professional (MBA/JD/MD)
+130%
~$281K

Source: US Census Bureau ACS PUMS Β· BLS OES wage data.

Negotiation Deep-Dive

Get your data-backed negotiation opening ask and walking-away floor.

πŸ“ŠYour exact market percentile based on BLS distribution
🎯P75 target + 10% stretch as your opening ask price
πŸšͺWalking-away floor so you know when to move on
Baltimore benchmarks
$122K
Market median
$147K
P75 target
$173K
Top 10%

Negotiation Calculator

Enter your current salary to see your market position and opening ask

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Psychologist in Baltimore β€” Distribution
P10
$86K
P25
$102K
P50
$122K
P75
$147K
P90
$173K
Enter your salary above to see your negotiation position

Data Source & Attribution

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (1.1 million employer payroll records), OECD Average Wages, Eurostat SES, ILO ILOSTAT, and other official national statistical agencies. Data is updated via ISR and reflects the most recent release cycle.

BLS.OEWS.2026.v2

Jun 20, 2026

Full methodology β†’
Check If You're Underpaid β†’