Baltimore Employment

Employment and Industries in the Baltimore, Maryland Area

The Baltimore-Towson metropolitan area has a strong economy and substantial opportunities for business and professional growth. The Baltimore area is home to several Fortune 1000 company headquarters. The largest company headquartered in Baltimore is Constellation Energy. The most famous are the financial services companies Legg Mason (now part of Citigroup Smith Barney) and T. Rowe Price.

The Baltimore area is a major center for medicine and biosciences, and home to two world-renowned teaching hospitals: Johns Hopkins Hospital and University Hospital at the University of Maryland. Baltimore receives the third largest amount of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of any U.S. city (behind Boston and New York). It is also a major center of research on the human genome project.

The Baltimore area has a well educated work force. According to the United States Census Bureau, almost 17% of the population has a college degree or higher. In 2005, Central Connecticut State University ranked Baltimore in the top 25 most literate cities in the United States. A 2005 Forbes survey ranked Baltimore 29th out of the 150 largest metropolitan areas in educational attainment.

Inc. Magazine has listed Baltimore in the top 100 on its list of "Best Cities for Doing Business" in the United States in the "medium cities" category for the last three years (2004-2006). The Baltimore area was also ranked 55 on Forbes magazine's 2005 list of "Best Places For Business and Careers" (out of the 150 largest metropolitan areas). In the same survey, Forbes also ranked Baltimore fifty-fifth for job growth. The Baltimore-Towson metropolitan area also achieved a "5-Star Business Opportunity Metro" ranking from Expansion Management’s 2005 Mayor’s Challenge ranking of the "Top Business Opportunity Metros." Ranking criteria used in the survey include business climate, transportation and logistics infrastructure, quality of life, public education, and other areas important for corporate site selection.

Major industries in the Baltimore area include health care and life sciences, hospitality and entertainment, international finance and banking, and maritime commerce. A major influence on the Baltimore area economy is the Port of Baltimore. It is ranked fourteenth in the United States in terms of tonnage, and seventh in terms of cargo value. The Port of Baltimore is well regarded as one of the United States' top container terminals. It is also one of the best protected deep water seaports in the world.

For business travelers, the Baltimore area is served by no fewer than three major airports, including:

  • Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Notable companies with headquarters or major operations in the Baltimore metropolitan area include:

  • BD Diagnostic Systems
  • CareFirst BlueCross & BlueShield
  • Constellation Energy
  • Greater Baltimore Medical Center
  • Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc.
  • Legg Mason
  • McCormick & Company, Inc.
  • Mittal Steel
  • Vertis
  • St. Joseph Medical Center
  • T. Rowe Price

Major business organizations and associations in the Baltimore Metropolitan area include:

The Baltimore Business Journal, and the "Business Section" of the Baltimore Sun are both good sources of information on business and the economy in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Jobs in Baltimore

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations1376070$59,250$28.49100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations181490$44,080$21.1913.75
3Sales and Related Occupations130380$45,050$21.669.5
4Transportation and Material Moving Occupations111190$39,550$19.026.7
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations110750$27,170$13.068.7
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations91650$84,250$40.515.85
7Business and Financial Operations Occupations90460$80,620$38.765.35
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations85730$68,960$33.156
9Management Occupations82810$127,530$61.316.35
10Computer and Mathematical Occupations68450$103,830$49.923
11Construction and Extraction Occupations60310$51,160$24.64.6
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations50200$51,870$24.943.75
13Healthcare Support Occupations49590$32,920$15.832.85
14Production Occupations41770$42,960$20.665.6
15Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations41690$30,960$14.893.6
16Protective Service Occupations41200$51,770$24.892.2
17Personal Care and Service Occupations37110$33,300$16.014.65
18Cashiers35620$24,650$11.852.2
19Retail Salespersons33580$28,560$13.732.7
20Registered Nurses32020$78,700$37.831.95
21Fast Food and Counter Workers30560$24,330$11.72.45
22Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive28820$41,900$20.141.4
23Architecture and Engineering Occupations28350$96,320$46.311.7
24Customer Service Representatives26060$39,740$19.11.75
25Stockers and Order Fillers24510$29,420$14.141.25
26Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand24390$32,730$15.741.8
27General and Operations Managers22860$133,770$64.311.5
28Community and Social Service Occupations22650$52,570$25.281.75
29Waiters and Waitresses22240$26,300$12.641.65
30Office Clerks, General21640$35,550$17.091.9
31Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners21450$28,390$13.651.5
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers20570$62,860$30.220.95
33Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers17230$117,890$56.680.65
34Home Health and Personal Care Aides17210$27,210$13.080
35Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations16700$57,780$27.781.8
36Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations16430$80,720$38.810.8
37Security Guards15570$33,330$16.030.7
38Legal Occupations15530$97,550$46.90.8
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel14890$74,890$360.7
40Nursing Assistants13220$31,880$15.330.95
41Accountants and Auditors12960$80,890$38.890.9
42Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other12940$92,580$44.510.7
43First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers12430$47,780$22.970.95
44Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers12080$49,680$23.881.2
45Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks11580$46,120$22.171.05
46Construction Laborers10370$35,950$17.280.9
47Light Truck Drivers10190$40,960$19.690.6
48Maintenance and Repair Workers, General10040$44,250$21.270.9
49Receptionists and Information Clerks9640$31,840$15.310.7
50First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers9080$39,230$18.860.6
51Management Analysts9010$94,140$45.260.55
52Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products8940$72,270$34.750.85
53Food Preparation Workers8860$26,930$12.950.5
54Computer Systems Analysts8680$101,740$48.910.4
55Cooks, Restaurant7920$28,540$13.720.9
56Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers7920$35,120$16.890.75
57Lawyers7920$133,940$64.390.5
58First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers7750$70,580$33.930.4
59Network and Computer Systems Administrators7670$112,910$54.290.2
60Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners7410$26,350$12.670.9
61Human Resources Specialists7090$73,030$35.110.4
62Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity7090$34,770$16.710.3
63Electricians7070$55,840$26.850.45
64Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other6990$114,100$54.860.7
65Carpenters6970$49,830$23.960.6
66Computer Occupations, All Other6950$107,570$51.710.3
67Medical Assistants6830$37,360$17.960.45
68Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers6790$71,380$34.320.4
69Financial Managers6520$146,250$70.310.4
70Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists6170$65,030$31.270.45
71Computer and Information Systems Managers5960$156,850$75.410.3
72First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers5790$66,420$31.930.3
73Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants5780$41,310$19.860.4
74Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other5750$82,320$39.580.2
75Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers5650$24,930$11.980.3
76Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics5590$46,350$22.280.5
77Computer User Support Specialists5420$58,190$27.980.4
78Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists5410$32,810$15.770.4
79Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks5380$38,430$18.470.4
80Childcare Workers5330$25,090$12.060.7
81Dishwashers4920$23,760$11.430.3
82Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors4910$51,470$24.750.2
83Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education4900$40,480$19.460.3
84Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses4670$54,350$26.130.5
85Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants4610$68,140$32.760.35
86Medical and Health Services Managers4540$122,090$58.70.3
87Bartenders4510$26,340$12.660.4
88Computer Network Support Specialists4480$73,580$35.370.1
89Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians4450$51,490$24.750.2
90Paralegals and Legal Assistants4420$56,970$27.390.2
91Social and Human Service Assistants4420$37,500$18.030.3
92Physicians, All Other; and Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric4370$194,450$93.490.3
93First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors4340$60,080$28.890.3
94Compliance Officers4290$73,950$35.550.2
95Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters4280$63,520$30.540.3
96Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators4220$73,100$35.150.2
97Pharmacy Technicians4220$34,770$16.710.3
98Buyers and Purchasing Agents4150$72,230$34.730.25
99Billing and Posting Clerks4040$42,740$20.550.3
100Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other4000$52,380$25.180
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Baltimore Colleges
Baltimore colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Baltimore Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$59,2501,376,070
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$44,080181,490
Sales and Related Occupations$45,050130,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$39,550111,190
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,170110,750
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$84,25091,650
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$80,62090,460
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$68,96085,730
Management Occupations$127,53082,810
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$103,83068,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$51,16060,310
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,87050,200
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,92049,590
Production Occupations$42,96041,770
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,96041,690
Protective Service Occupations$51,77041,200
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,30037,110
Cashiers$24,65035,620
Retail Salespersons$28,56033,580
Registered Nurses$78,70032,020
Fast Food and Counter Workers$24,33030,560
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,90028,820
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$96,32028,350
Customer Service Representatives$39,74026,060
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,42024,510
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,73024,390
General and Operations Managers$133,77022,860
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,57022,650
Waiters and Waitresses$26,30022,240
Office Clerks, General$35,55021,640
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,39021,450
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,86020,570
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$117,89017,230
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,21017,210
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,78016,700
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$80,72016,430
Security Guards$33,33015,570
Legal Occupations$97,55015,530
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$74,89014,890
Nursing Assistants$31,88013,220
Accountants and Auditors$80,89012,960
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$92,58012,940
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,78012,430
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,68012,080
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,12011,580
Construction Laborers$35,95010,370
Light Truck Drivers$40,96010,190
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,25010,040
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,8409,640
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,2309,080

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Baltimore, Maryland Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$59,2501,376,070
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$44,080181,490
Sales and Related Occupations$45,050130,380
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$39,550111,190
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$27,170110,750
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$84,25091,650
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$80,62090,460
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$68,96085,730
Management Occupations$127,53082,810
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$103,83068,450
Construction and Extraction Occupations$51,16060,310
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$51,87050,200
Healthcare Support Occupations$32,92049,590
Production Occupations$42,96041,770
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$30,96041,690
Protective Service Occupations$51,77041,200
Personal Care and Service Occupations$33,30037,110
Retail Salespersons$28,56033,580
Registered Nurses$78,70032,020
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,90028,820
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$96,32028,350
Customer Service Representatives$39,74026,060
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,42024,510
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$32,73024,390
General and Operations Managers$133,77022,860
Community and Social Service Occupations$52,57022,650
Waiters and Waitresses$26,30022,240
Office Clerks, General$35,55021,640
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,39021,450
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,86020,570
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$117,89017,230
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,21017,210
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,78016,700
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$80,72016,430
Security Guards$33,33015,570
Legal Occupations$97,55015,530
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$74,89014,890
Nursing Assistants$31,88013,220
Accountants and Auditors$80,89012,960
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$92,58012,940
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,78012,430
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,68012,080
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,12011,580
Construction Laborers$35,95010,370
Light Truck Drivers$40,96010,190
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,25010,040
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,8409,640
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,2309,080
Management Analysts$94,1409,010
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,2708,940

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