Data · Maryland × Law

Women in Law in Maryland

How women in law fare in Maryland — state-adjusted pay gap, state ranking, and the national context that frames the local picture.

88.1%
Maryland overall earnings ratio (women/men)
Census ACS S2001
#4
of 51 jurisdictions for pay equity
Derived from ACS state ratios
11.9%
Unadjusted pay gap in Maryland
Census ACS
43.6%
Women in Maryland’s legislature

The state-adjusted picture

Women in law nationally face the same structural conditions as women in every other field — but the overall wage environment in Maryland modifies the baseline by +5.1% relative to the US average. A state where the overall pay gap is narrower tends to reflect narrower gaps within fields too, though field-specific dynamics dominate for specialized professions.

Maryland elected its first woman US Senator in 1986.

National context

The legal profession is half female by count and far less than half at the top. This page tracks the current numbers: who enters law school, who makes partner, who leaves, and what the pay actually looks like.

Full national data Women in Law: Numbers, Pay, and Trends (2026)

National headline stats (law)

56%
Women among US law school enrollments (2024)
39.1%
Women among all practicing US lawyers (ABA 2024)
24%
Women among equity partners at the top 200 US law firms
24.3%
Median annual pay gap — female vs male lawyers (BLS CPS)

Other fields in Maryland

Law in other states

Related pages

Frequently asked

What is the pay gap for women in law in Maryland?

Maryland’s overall pay ratio is 88.1% — a 11.9% gap. The gap within law follows the national pattern modified by Maryland’s overall wage environment. See the full national field data for in-field specifics.

How does Maryland rank on pay equity?

Maryland ranks #4 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity, per Census ACS state ratios.

How are women represented in Maryland politics?

43.6% of Maryland state legislators are women (CAWP 2024). 4 women from Maryland serve in the 119th US Congress.

Where does the national law data come from?

American Bar Association statistics; NALP Reports on Diversity in US Law Firms; Major, Lindsey & Africa Partner Compensation Survey