Baltimore, Columbia and Germantown are Maryland's top three cities, and according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the top three industries are Office and Administrative Support Occupations, Sales and Related Occupations, and Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations. Job applicants seeking better wages and benefits should consider how postsecondary certifications and degrees can enrich their resumes. For example, the BLS report shows that there are more retail salespersons than any other occupations in the state and they have a mean annual wage of $25,120. A person with certification or an associate degree in supervisory management can be a first-line supervisor and earn a salary of approximately $43,150.
Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) oversees the postsecondary institutions in the state. The most famous Maryland institution is the US Naval Academy, but the state has an extensive network of community colleges, two- or four-year colleges and the University System of Maryland. Although many people work in the government sector, the top public companies are Giant Food Inc.; Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, which are comprised of six institutions; and MedStar Health. The MHEC works closely with these companies to ensure that graduates have the latest skills in technology and other pertinent knowledge. The state's schools, such as the Johns Hopkins University, teach the latest engineering, science and technology information. Although most people work as entry-level service persons, such as retail cashiers, according to the BLS report's mean annual wage data, some of the top paying professions are surgeons at $240,390, anesthesiologists at $232,890 and chief executives at $186,740.
Maryland borders states large metropolitan areas, such as the Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV Metropolitan Division. This metropolitan division includes the District of Columbia, and parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia and gives Maryland residents job opportunities that many states cannot offer. Another main metropolitan area is the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD region. Many people use Maryland's excellent educational system to get their degrees and, upon graduation, seek employment in neighboring states.