Federal and defense contracting, biotech, and the Port of Baltimore push Maryland safety-manager pay to an estimated median of $98,000 a year, one of the higher figures in this region, under the state's own OSHA program (MOSH).
Maryland safety and EHS managers earn an estimated median of $98,000 a year, with most roles paying between $76,440 and $132,300 — among the higher figures in this region. The estimate scales the BLS national median for occupational health & safety specialists — $83,910 (SOC 19-5011, OES May 2024) — to Maryland’s wage level; actual pay still depends on industry, employer size, certifications and experience. The Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest vehicle and roll-on/roll-off cargo ports in the country, drives a lot of logistics-safety hiring, while the state’s proximity to Washington, D.C. brings a large base of federal facilities and defense contractors, plus a biotech and pharmaceutical research cluster. Cost of living in Maryland runs above the national median overall, and noticeably so in the D.C.-adjacent suburbs, which is part of why the salary figure sits higher here than in most neighboring states.
EHS hiring concentrates around Baltimore, Columbia and Silver Spring. Baltimore’s demand leans on port operations, logistics and manufacturing; Columbia and Silver Spring sit closer to the D.C. corridor and draw more from federal contracting, biotech and healthcare employers.
Maryland operates its own OSHA-approved State Plan, MOSH, covering both private-sector and state/local government employers, with the authority to adopt standards stricter than federal OSHA’s. Safety managers in Maryland work with the state program directly rather than federal OSHA.
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What do safety managers earn in Maryland?
Maryland safety and EHS managers earn an estimated median of about $98,000 a year, with most roles between $76,440 and $132,300 depending on industry, employer size, certifications and experience, scaling BLS national OES data to Maryland's wage level.
Does Maryland run its own OSHA program?
Yes. Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) is a full-scope State Plan covering both private-sector and state/local government employers, and it can set standards stricter than federal OSHA.
What industries drive safety-manager demand in Maryland?
The Port of Baltimore is a major source of logistics-safety roles. Maryland's proximity to Washington, D.C. also brings a large base of federal facilities and defense contractors, plus a biotech and pharmaceutical cluster tied to the NIH and Frederick research corridor.
Is Maryland an expensive state to work in?
Generally yes — Maryland's cost of living runs above the national median, especially in the D.C.-adjacent suburbs, so the higher salary figure here should be read against that higher baseline.
Salary figures are estimates derived from BLS national OES data scaled to state wage levels — not a guarantee or an offer. Verify current local data with BLS and employers. ← All states · Home