Healthcare Recruiting
Registered Nurse Salary in Maryland 2026: City-by-City Pay Data
Registered Nurse Salary in Maryland (2026): City-by-City Pay Data
The average registered nurse salary in Maryland in 2026 is $83,200/year ($40.00/hour) based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and compensation data from Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, MedStar Health, and other major Maryland health systems. The Washington DC metro proximity lifts suburban Maryland rates above the state average, particularly in Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
RN Salary by City in Maryland
| City / Metro | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DC Metro (Montgomery / Prince George's) | $91,000 | Holy Cross Health, Adventist HealthCare, Suburban Hospital |
| Baltimore City / Inner Harbor | $86,400 | Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center |
| Baltimore Suburbs (Anne Arundel / Howard) | $82,500 | Luminis Health, UM Capital Region |
| Annapolis | $81,800 | Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center |
| Frederick | $77,500 | Frederick Health Hospital |
| Eastern Shore / Hagerstown | $72,000 | UM Shore Regional Health, TidalHealth |
Highest-Paying Nursing Specialties in Maryland
| Specialty | Avg Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| CRNA | $218,000 |
| Cardiac / Cath Lab RN | $104,000 |
| ICU / Critical Care RN | $101,000 |
| OR / Surgical RN | $97,000 |
| Emergency RN | $93,000 |
| L&D RN | $91,000 |
Top Maryland Healthcare Employers for RNs
- Johns Hopkins Medicine — world-ranked academic medical center; top pay for experienced specialty RNs in Baltimore
- University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) — 13-hospital system statewide; largest public health system in Maryland
- MedStar Health — 10 hospitals across Maryland and DC; strong DC metro suburban presence
- Luminis Health — Anne Arundel and Doctors Community; suburban Baltimore/Annapolis market
- LifeBridge Health — Sinai, Northwest, Carroll, Grace Medical Center; Baltimore-area community hospitals
- Adventist HealthCare — Montgomery County; large system serving the DC suburb market
Compact License Status
Maryland is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). RNs holding a multistate license issued by their primary state of residence can practice in Maryland without a separate Maryland license. Maryland nurses relocating to another compact state should update their primary state of residence with the Maryland Board of Nursing within 30 days.
Maryland RN Job Market Outlook
Maryland benefits from proximity to DC and government-adjacent employers including the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda — one of the country's largest clinical research nursing programs. Suburban Montgomery and Prince George's counties command near-DC rates with lower cost of living than DC proper. Travel RN rates in Baltimore run $2,100–$2,900/week. Johns Hopkins and UMMS actively recruit from regional nursing programs, creating strong hiring pipelines for new graduates.
How to Maximize Your RN Salary in Maryland
- Target Johns Hopkins or UMMS: Academic medical center pay floors exceed community hospitals by $8,000–$15,000/year
- Consider the NIH Clinical Center: Federal nursing positions offer defined benefit pensions, adding significant long-term compensation value
- Leverage compact license advantages: Virginia-licensed compact RNs can cross-work in Maryland without re-licensing
- Certify in high-demand specialties: CCRN, CEN, and CNOR add $5,000–$12,000/year at major Maryland health systems
- Pursue travel contracts in suburban counties: Montgomery County travel rates approach DC-proper rates due to high cost-of-living adjustments
Related: RN Salary Virginia 2026, RN Salary Pennsylvania 2026, RN Salary New York 2026.
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