SOC 19-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Astronomers — Maryland
Maryland
The median wage here is $132,620 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $128,820.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $132,620 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $128,820. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $102,910 and $175,720. The lowest tenth earn under $83,200, while the highest tenth earn more than $214,450.
The area has 980 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 26.06 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Maryland ranks number 1st out of 5 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 728 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 66th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,200 | −35.4% |
| 25th | $102,910 | −20.1% |
| Median (50th) | $132,620 | +2.9% |
| 75th | $175,720 | +36.4% |
| 90th | $214,450 | +66.5% |
| Mean | $144,760 | +12.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Maryland run 5.0% above the national average, so the median of $132,620 buys what $126,305 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$132,620as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$126,305US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $132,620 a year, 2.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $83,200 to $214,450 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 980 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 5 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Astronomers in Maryland?
The median annual wage is $132,620, or $63.76 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $128,820, so pay in Maryland is 2.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Maryland earns more than $214,450 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $83,200 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 980 jobs in this occupation in Maryland. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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