Travel Nurse Pay in Maryland (2026)
Maryland pays some of the highest RN wages on the East Coast, and its hospital density keeps travel demand deep. Here are the verified BLS numbers, hedged package ranges, and a county-tax wrinkle most calculators miss.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Maryland) | 52,910 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $99,790/yr ($47.98/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $99,010/yr ($47.60/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $76,780/yr | Floor of the market |
Travel nurse pay in Maryland: the numbers
Maryland employed 52,910 registered nurses as of May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The median RN wage was $99,790 ($47.98/hr) per year with a mean of $99,010 ($47.60/hr) — the second-highest median in this series — a 10th percentile of $76,780 and a 90th percentile of $124,790.
Density is the story: the Baltimore–Washington corridor packs academic medical centers, large community systems and federal health facilities into a small area, which raises the whole wage structure — note the 10th percentile alone ($76,780) would sit near the median in several other states. For travelers, that translates into steady specialty demand at Baltimore's academic hospitals and the NIH-adjacent Bethesda market, with bill rates anchored to the 75th percentile ($107,340) and above.
The hedged range below reflects the corridor's premium. Verify live offers with your recruiter, and remember Washington, D.C. contracts are a separate market with separate (non-compact) licensure.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Maryland) | 52,910 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $99,790/yr ($47.98/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $99,010/yr ($47.60/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $76,780/yr | Floor of the market |
| Experienced RN (75th–90th pct) | $107,340–$124,790/yr | Where bill rates cluster |
| Typical travel package (hedged) | roughly $2,300–$3,000/week gross | Taxable wage + stipends; varies by specialty and season — verify with recruiters |
| State income tax (2026) | State 2%–5.75% + county 2.25%–3.20% | Applies to taxable wages only, not stipends |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Yes — original compact state; eNLC since Jan 2018 | Determines how fast you can start |
All BLS figures on this page: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). Wage figures are for staff registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries — travel packages are quoted separately and are inherently variable. See the full list on our travel nurse pay by state hub.
How stipends change the math in Maryland
Stipend caps follow the federal GSA tables — Bethesda and Potomac-area caps are among the higher ones in the region, Baltimore solid, Eastern Shore lower (current tables at gsa.gov/perdiem). Housing in the D.C.-adjacent suburbs can outrun a housing stipend the way coastal California does, so agency housing deserves real consideration there.
Illustrative math: $25/hr × 36 guaranteed hours = $900/week taxable. Subtract roughly $103 federal, $69 FICA and $68 Maryland state-plus-county tax at a hedged 7.5% combined rate, leaving about $660. Add $1,500 housing plus $400 M&IE — $1,900 tax-free — for a take-home near $2,560/week, about $71/hour blended, roughly $33,300 over 13 weeks. The county layer makes Maryland's effective rate vary by assignment location, so plug your actual county rate into the take-home calculator and compare offers by blended rate.
And the standing rule: stipends are tax-free only with a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses. Maryland auditors are not the risk — the IRS rule is national — but the size of Maryland packages makes the dollar stakes bigger.
Maryland income tax: state brackets plus a county layer
Maryland runs graduated state rates from 2.00% to 5.75% (top bracket above $250,000 for single filers), and then — the part travelers forget — every county plus Baltimore City levies its own local income tax between 2.25% and 3.20% on top, withheld automatically. At travel-nurse taxable-pay levels the state marginal is typically 4.75%, so a realistic combined marginal is roughly 7%–8% depending on the county. Maryland also holds reciprocity with Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania — residents of those jurisdictions working in Maryland generally keep paying home jurisdiction instead. Verify your county rate with the Maryland Comptroller and your overall position with a CPA.
Tax figures here are 2026 planning rates from official state sources and the Tax Foundation's 2026 tables — confirm your own filing position with the relevant state revenue department or a CPA; this page is not tax advice.
Licensure in Maryland: compact member
Maryland is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact — in fact one of the original compact states, with the enhanced NLC in force since January 19, 2018 (per NCSBN). A multistate license from your compact home state covers Maryland assignments with no separate application. One planning note: Washington, D.C. is not a compact member, so a Bethesda-adjacent itinerary that crosses into D.C. facilities needs separate D.C. licensure. Verify your privileges on the NCSBN site before signing. Compact status per the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (ncsbn.org).
Where the demand is in Maryland
Baltimore is the anchor: Johns Hopkins Hospital, the University of Maryland Medical Center and the Mercy and LifeBridge (Sinai) campuses generate the deepest specialty traveler demand between Philadelphia and Atlanta. The Bethesda–Rockville corridor adds the NIH Clinical Center and a dense suburban hospital market, Frederick and Anne Arundel counties feed steady community-hospital lines, and Salisbury's TidalHealth Peninsula Regional anchors the Eastern Shore. Baltimore GSA lodging caps are meaningful, but so are Baltimore and Bethesda rents.
Stipend ceilings everywhere follow the federal per-diem tables for your assignment location — gsa.gov/perdiem.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Maryland?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the median staff RN in Maryland earns $99,790/year. Travel packages typically quote $2,300–$3,000/week gross, with Baltimore academic centers and the Bethesda corridor at the top — verify offers with recruiters.
Is Maryland a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes — Maryland was an original compact state and honors multistate licenses. Washington, D.C., however, is not a compact member.
What is Maryland's income tax for travelers?
State rates run 2%–5.75% plus a county income tax of 2.25%–3.20%; a combined marginal near 7%–8% is typical at travel taxable-pay levels. Residents of D.C., Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania get reciprocity.
Are stipends taxed in Maryland?
Stipends are tax-free with a valid tax home; state and county taxes apply only to your taxable wages.
Why are Maryland RN wages so high?
A dense Baltimore–Washington hospital market anchored by Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland system supports a $99,790 median (BLS, May 2025), with the 10th percentile already at $76,780.
What is a good blended rate in Maryland?
An illustrative $2,560/week take-home over 36 hours is about $71/hour blended. Given the county tax layer, push for gross at the upper end and always compare after-tax.