Baltimore (city), Maryland: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
The data center boom is not abstract in Baltimore (city): it is on the ground here. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 9 data centers in Baltimore (city), 19% of Maryland's total. Baltimore (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county. Unemployment was 5.5% in August 2026, against 4.6% in 2019. Electrical contractors employ 1,536, up 5.3% since 2019 against up 0.7% statewide, at an average $92,243 a year. Employers here counted 347,764 jobs in 2025, up 1.0% from 2019.
Cities and towns in Baltimore (city)
Baltimore (city) is an independent city: it is its own county-equivalent and is not part of any county.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Baltimore (city)
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 583,295 | 569,997 | ▼ 2.3% | 5th of 24 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 344,378 | 347,764 | ▲ 1.0% | 14th of 24 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $68,551 | $87,200 | ▲ 27.2% | — |
| Electrical contractor jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,458 | 1,536 | ▲ 5.3% | — |
| Electric utility jobs (2019 → 2025) | 3,082 | 3,007 | ▼ 2.4% | — |
| Data processing and hosting jobs (2019 → 2025) | 218 | 206 | ▼ 5.5% | — |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 4.6% | 5.5% | ▲ 0.9pts | — |
569,997 people live here, down 2.3% since 2020, 5th of 24 Maryland counties by population.
Who powers Baltimore (city)
No operating power plant is located in Baltimore (city) in the EIA-860M inventory. Its power comes over the grid from plants elsewhere.
The Baltimore (city) labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 347,764 | $87,200 | 1.00 |
| Electrical contractors | 1,536 | $92,243 | 0.61 |
| Power and communication line construction | 380 | $129,131 | 0.68 |
| Electric utilities | 3,007 | $243,953 | 3.19 |
| Data processing and hosting | 206 | $213,577 | 0.19 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Baltimore (city)
9 data centers in Baltimore (city) are on the SAVRN Data Center Map: see them by city and operator.
Baltimore (city) and its neighbors
Of the 2 counties that border Baltimore (city), Anne Arundel County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore (city) | 569,997 | ▲ 1.0% | — | — | 9 | — |
| Anne Arundel County | 603,380 | ▲ 6.6% | 2,173 MW | — | 9 | — |
| Baltimore County | 847,650 | ▼ 2.9% | 47 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
More of Maryland
Baltimore (city), answered from the record
Are there data centers in Baltimore (city)?
Yes. The SAVRN Data Center Map lists 9 data centers in Baltimore (city).
What county is Baltimore, MD in?
Baltimore is in Baltimore (city), Maryland. About 569,997 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
Is Baltimore (city) adding jobs?
Employers counted 347,764 jobs in 2025 against 344,378 in 2019 (+1.0%, BLS QCEW).
Does Baltimore (city) have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Baltimore (city). Maryland has 31 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.