Average registered nurse compensation in Maryland across seven career stages — from new grad RN to Chief Nursing Officer. Updated 2026 benchmarks to help you negotiate, plan, and grow.
RN Salary by Role in Maryland
Maryland offers competitive RN compensation, with staff nurses averaging close to $85,000 annually.
The earnings curve is significant across a nursing career in Maryland. Entry-level new grad RNs generally start near $62,000, while experienced specialty nurses in high-acuity areas (ICU, ER, OR) average closer to $96,000. Leadership tracks open up further upside: nurse managers average around $107,000, directors of nursing near $124,000, and CNOs can reach $147,000. Advanced practice nurses (NPs, CNSs, CRNAs, and CNMs) in Maryland report average compensation around $107,000.
As a Nurse Licensure Compact member, Maryland issues multistate RN and LPN licenses to residents, allowing nurses to practice across other compact states without applying for a separate license — a real advantage for travel nursing or remote telehealth work.
As with any state, factor in local cost of living and taxes alongside salary when evaluating job offers in Maryland.
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