How Much Does an NP Make in Columbia, MD in 2026?
Typical pay for NPs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Maryland.
BLS OES May 2025 · Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area
A typical NP in Columbia, Maryland earns $63.46 per hour, or $131,990 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $10,999 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $102,060, and the top 10% of earners make over $168,770.
That pay is 1% above the Maryland figure of $131,110 and right at the national figure of $132,300. Columbia ranks 2nd of 5 metro areas in Maryland for NP pay. About 3,800 NPs work in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area. Columbia is part of the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Towson and Baltimore share these figures.
NP pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $63.46 an hour, or $131,990 a year.
- That is 1% above the Maryland figure, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $102,060; the top 10% make over $168,770.
- Typical pay rose +33% from 2015 to 2025, against +34% for Maryland as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an NP make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $49.07 an hour to more than $81.14 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Maryland and national figures.
NP pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $102,060$49.07 an hour | $99,920$48.04 an hour | $101,340$48.72 an hour |
| First years | $121,690$58.51 an hour | $119,660$57.53 an hour | $117,990$56.73 an hour |
| Typical NP | $131,990$63.46 an hour | $131,110$63.03 an hour | $132,300$63.61 an hour |
| Experienced | $146,860$70.61 an hour | $147,140$70.74 an hour | $156,700$75.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $168,770$81.14 an hour | $169,330$81.41 an hour | $174,420$83.86 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area as BLS defines it
NP pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for NPs in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical NP pay in Columbia was $99,080 a year. By 2025 it had reached $131,990, a change of +33%, compared with +34% for Maryland over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Maryland cities
Alexandria pays NPs the most in Maryland at $134,840 a year, $2,850 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Salisbury at $125,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | NPs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria | $134,840 | $64.83 | +2% | 4,050 |
| 2 | Columbia | $131,990 | $63.46 | this city | 3,800 |
| 3 | Lexington Park | $127,460 | $61.28 | -3% | 170 |
| 4 | Martinsburg metro incl. Hagerstown | $126,240 | $60.69 | -4% | 360 |
| 5 | Salisbury | $125,550 | $60.36 | -5% | 190 |
Every metro area in Maryland with NP wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Maryland typical pay $131,110
Is Columbia a good place to work as an NP?
NP pay in Columbia sits close to the national figure: $131,990 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area, about 2.8 are NP positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. That makes the local economy more reliant on NPs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an NP make in Columbia, MD?
- A typical NP in Columbia earns $131,990 a year, or $63.46 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $102,060 and the top 10% earn over $168,770.
- How much does an NP make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for NPs in Columbia is $63.46. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $49.07, and the top 10% earn over $81.14 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an NP in Columbia?
- Entry-level NP positions in Columbia typically offer around $49.07 an hour, or $102,060 a year.
- Is NP pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Maryland?
- Columbia pay is 1% above the Maryland figure of $131,110 a year, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state. Alexandria pays the most in Maryland at $134,840.