Accounting Degree in Baltimore, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Accounting degree analysis for Baltimore, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$81K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$117K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.9 yrs
in Baltimore
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Accounting in Baltimore, MD Overview
Baltimore is one of Maryland's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 30,415. Public tuition averages $12,096/year here — near the national average for public universities. Accounting enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Reporting and Tax Preparation. The adjusted starting salary in Baltimore is approximately $80,600.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$12,096/yr
Private Tuition
$56,325/yr
Room & Board
$21,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,793/yr
Unemployment
6.3%
Graduation Rate
58%
Accounting Salary in Baltimore (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baltimore's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Accounting salary: $62,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Baltimore adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Accounting ROI Calculator for Baltimore
Estimate your return on investment for a Accounting degree using local Baltimore tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,096 | Private avg: $56,325
Baltimore avg aid: $8,793/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$135,364
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$35,100
vs HS diploma in Baltimore
ROI Payback Period
3.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baltimore
$839,636
Lifetime earnings premium ($975,000) minus total education cost ($135,364)
Student Loan Payoff for Accounting in Baltimore
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baltimore for Accounting
Johns Hopkins University
private
$60,480/yr
$241,920 total
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
public
$12,096/yr
$48,384 total
Loyola University Maryland
private
$52,170/yr
$208,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baltimore City Community College
$3,768/yr
Top Employers for Accounting in Baltimore
Baltimore offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Accounting graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baltimore Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Accounting Job Titles
Accounting in Nearby Maryland Cities
Columbia, MD
$79K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Silver Spring, MD
$76K starting · COL 122.5
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$70K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$75K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$71K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$67K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$80K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$72K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Baltimore
Business Analytics
$101K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$91K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$85K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$65K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$65K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$75K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Accounting Degree in Baltimore — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Accounting ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baltimore.