BURNOUT INDEX — MD — #23th OF 50
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Median household income sits +21% vs. the national median against a BEA Regional Price Parity of 101.5. Unemployment at 4.8% and a 29.7-minute average commute put Baltimore-Columbia-Towson in the middle of the pack — the numbers don't make it a disaster, but they don't make it a bargain either.
Scored 2026-05-04. Data: Census ACS 5-year 2023, BEA RPP 2024. Unemployment: BLS LAUS (most recent month).
The receipts
Three components, three public sources. Each term is clamped to [0, 1] before weighting. The formula is published on the methodology page; any change to the weights requires a public ADR (ADR-0013+).
| Component | Raw value | vs. national | Weight | Contribution | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay-to-cost gap Median HH income vs. cost of living. Purchasing power index: 1.19 (wages above cost-adjusted national) | $97,300 RPP 101.5 | +21% national median income | 40% | 0 | Census ACS 2023 BEA RPP 2024 |
| Mean commute Minutes/day, ACS 5-year. Capped at 60 min. | 29.7 min | 3.2 min longer than 26.5 min national | 30% | 14.9 | Census ACS 2023 |
| Unemployment rate BLS LAUS (monthly, MSA-level). Capped at 8%. Preliminary. | 4.8% | 0.9pp above 3.9% national (ACS period) | 30% | 18 | BLS LAUS LAUMT241258000000003 |
| Total score | 33 | ||||
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson in context
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson ranks 23th out of 50 major US metro areas on the Office Blues Burnout Index. The index measures three labor-market signals that directly affect worker quality of life: the gap between wages and cost of living, commute time, and unemployment pressure. It does not measure culture, management quality, or RTO mandates — those signals are not yet available at MSA level from primary sources without scraping.
The metro area population is approximately 2,888,683, making it one of the top-50 US metros by size. The data covers the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 12580), which typically extends well beyond the core city limits.
On wages vs. cost of living: median household income here is $97,300 per year (+21% the national median of $80,610). Against a BEA Regional Price Parity of 101.5 (national average = 100, higher = more expensive), that works out to a purchasing-power index of 1.19 relative to a national baseline of 1.0. Wages here stretch further than the national average on a cost-adjusted basis — that's why the pay-to-cost gap contributes 0 points, not more.
On commute: the average one-way trip takes 29.7 minutes — 3.2 min longer than the national mean of 26.5 minutes. The commute component contributes 14.9 points out of a possible 30 (capped when commute ≥ 60 minutes). Commute time is the most consistent predictor of reported job dissatisfaction in the academic literature; it compounds every other signal.
On unemployment: the rate is 4.8%, which is 0.9pp above the national reference figure of 3.9% for the ACS measurement period. The unemployment component contributes 18 points out of a possible 30 (capped at 8%). High unemployment signals a weak labor market where workers have fewer outside options — the classic condition for wage suppression and lower bargaining power. This figure is from BLS LAUS (2026-02-28), the most current available.
The score formula is editorial — 40/30/30 weights are a deliberate choice, not derived from regression. If you think the weights are wrong, the methodology page explains the rationale. Weight changes require a public ADR (ADR-0013+). The sources are federal, license-free for reuse with attribution.
HOW THIS IS CALCULATED
Formula (ADR-0012, binding):
burnout_score = round( 40 × clamp₀₁(1 − normalized_wage / cost_norm) // pay-to-cost gap + 30 × clamp₀₁(commute_min / 60) // commute + 30 × clamp₀₁(unemployment_pct / 8) // unemployment )
Where:
normalized_wage= $97,300 ÷ $80,610 (national median) = 1.2070cost_norm= 101.451 ÷ 100 = 1.0145pay_term= clamp₀₁(1 − 1.2070 ÷ 1.0145) = 0.0000commute_term= clamp₀₁(29.7 ÷ 60) = 0.4950unemp_term= clamp₀₁(4.8 ÷ 8) = 0.6000
Score = round(40 × 0.0000 + 30 × 0.4950 + 30 × 0.6000) = round(32.85) = 33
Full methodology, weight rationale, and source citations: /methodology#burnout-index. Weight changes are a brand contract — any modification requires ADR-0013+.
What changed since last update
Score moved from 32 to 33 (+1 points). Data sources refresh weekly via CI cron. Score changes reflect BLS LAUS monthly releases (unemployment) and are recomputed every Monday at 14:30 UTC.
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Raw JSON: /burnout-index/baltimore-md.json · License: CC BY 4.0 · Cite as: Office Blues Burnout Index, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, officeblues.net/burnout-index/baltimore-md, 2026-05-04