NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Maryland: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 43.6 (Elevated), ranked #26 of 51 states. 17,530 establishments, 269,510 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 43.6
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

The retail trade sector in Maryland is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
45.1%
Percentile within industry
Rank #29 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
30.1
Scale of 0-100
Rank #35 of 51 states
Establishment Density
19.8
vs. national average
Rank #6 of 51 states
Market Volatility
24.2
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
32.0
Labor cost pressure

17,530 Establishments in Maryland

17,530
Establishments
+0.2% YoY
269,510
Total Employment
-0.1% YoY
$42,891
Average Annual Wage
+2.6% YoY

Maryland vs National Retail Trade Average

How Maryland's retail trade market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric MD National Difference
Entry Risk Score 43.6 44.6 -1.0
5-Year Retention 45.1% 51.0% -5.9
Growth Momentum 30.1 42.9 -12.8
Market Volatility 24.2 24.4 -0.2
Establishment Density 19.8 49.0 -29.2
Wage Pressure 32.0 30.5 +1.5

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within retail trade only.

Maryland Ranks #26 of 51 for Retail Trade

Maryland ranks #26 out of 51 states for retail trade market entry conditions.

Retail Trade Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 33.3 moderate
#2 Nebraska 35.9 moderate
#3 Nevada 37.0 moderate
#4 Massachusetts 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 37.2 moderate
#26 Maryland You 43.6 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 37.2 · #5 Alabama — 46.4 · #36 Arkansas — 51.8 · #44 Arizona — 44.9 · #32 California — 44.0 · #28 Colorado — 42.9 · #23 Connecticut — 44.7 · #31 District of Columbia — 58.0 · #50 Delaware — 41.8 · #19 Florida — 51.0 · #43 Georgia — 47.5 · #38 Hawaii — 56.1 · #48 Iowa — 40.8 · #16 Idaho — 40.1 · #12 Illinois — 48.1 · #39 Indiana — 39.8 · #10 Kansas — 40.4 · #14 Kentucky — 46.4 · #36 Louisiana — 52.3 · #46 Massachusetts — 37.1 · #4 Maryland — 43.6 · #26 Maine — 44.1 · #29 Michigan — 40.5 · #15 Minnesota — 39.6 · #9 Missouri — 50.6 · #42 Mississippi — 59.2 · #51 Montana — 45.8 · #34 North Carolina — 43.4 · #25 North Dakota — 49.9 · #41 Nebraska — 35.9 · #2 New Hampshire — 48.7 · #40 New Jersey — 43.7 · #27 New Mexico — 39.9 · #11 Nevada — 37.0 · #3 New York — 57.2 · #49 Ohio — 39.2 · #8 Oklahoma — 46.3 · #35 Oregon — 42.9 · #24 Pennsylvania — 38.1 · #6 Rhode Island — 42.3 · #21 South Carolina — 44.3 · #30 South Dakota — 38.9 · #7 Tennessee — 42.8 · #22 Texas — 41.6 · #17 Utah — 40.3 · #13 Virginia — 41.6 · #17 Vermont — 52.1 · #45 Washington — 42.0 · #20 Wisconsin — 33.3 · #1 West Virginia — 52.8 · #47 Wyoming — 44.9 · #33
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does Maryland stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How Maryland's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Pennsylvania 38.1 #6/51 Virginia 41.6 #17/51 Delaware 41.8 #19/51 West Virginia 52.8 #47/51 District of Columbia 58.0 #50/51

Other Industries in Maryland

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →