When people think of aerospace hubs, often regions known for large-scale aerospace manufacturing come to mind. Or, one may associate aerospace with areas offering vast open skies and perceived lower costs. These traditional centers have surface level advantages, but no other region offers proximity to power, access to research and development, and a strong talent pipeline the way Maryland does.

Let’s break down Maryland’s unique advantages.

Talent That’s Ready for Launch
Maryland’s unmatched talent pipeline makes hiring easier and more cost-effective. Our talent doesn’t just fill vacancies – our bright minds help power big innovations. Maryland is second in the nation for professional and technical workforce¹, and the California-Lexington Park area has a higher concentration of aerospace engineers than anywhere else². Home to leading engineering schools, including the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Naval Academy, Maryland’s talent pipeline is strong. The University of Maryland is ranked among the best in the nation for aerospace engineering³.

A High Quality of Life at a Low Cost
Maryland offers high quality of life with access to top schools, culture, and natural beauty. Businesses and employees alike benefit from affordability without sacrificing opportunity or lifestyle. In fact, Maryland has been named the leading state to maximize a middle-class income⁴. Maryland offers some unexpected cost advantages for business too. Consider that Maryland offers lower corporate and property tax rates than Texas⁵, when comparing Maryland’s corporate tax with Texas’ franchise tax. When evaluating Colorado, you’ll see Baltimore offers a lower cost of living than Denver and Colorado Springs, ⁶while Maryland’s cost of doing business remains lower than Colorado’s. Lastly, Maryland’s cost of doing business index is lower than Florida’s.⁷

Proximity to Power
Maryland offers unmatched access to federal decision-makers, with a density of federal institutions, 20 military facilities, and next-door proximity to Washington, D.C. Key agencies like NOAA are based here, and Maryland’s NASA Goddard Space Flight Center sits just 20 miles from NASA Headquarters in D.C. NASA Wallops Flight Facility, located just across the border of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, provides even greater access to NASA. For aerospace firms aiming to secure contracts, shape policy, or collaborate on groundbreaking missions, Maryland provides a clear strategic advantage.

A Research Powerhouse
Maryland leads the nation in federal tech transfer facilities⁸ and ranks third in federal government R&D spending at academic institutions⁹. This gives local aerospace innovators a major advantage. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center drives space science and satellite innovation. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab is one of the nation’s leading R&D centers, building everything from deep-space instruments to advanced defense systems. Naval Air Systems Command in Southern Maryland handles the development, acquisition and sustainment of all of the U.S. Navy’s aviation equipment and systems. The University of Maryland leads several aerospace R&D initiatives, including its UAS Research and Operations Center that helps spur UAS commercialization.

Crossroads of Aerospace, Defense, Cyber and Defense
Maryland offers integration with other high-tech sectors and a level of collaboration that you simply won’t see elsewhere. Dense with Department of Defense entities, including the U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, Maryland offers a natural overlap between aerospace, intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies – fields that increasingly converge in areas like satellite security, unmanned systems, and space defense.

An Epicenter for Aerospace Growth
Aerospace companies in Maryland get noticed, connected, and supported. A new Aerospace and Technology Commission is dedicated to advancing the industry, and programs like the R&D Tax Credit and the Build Our Future Grant Program help provide the financial support to bolster growth in high-tech sectors. For innovators aiming to shape the future of flight and space, it’s time to turn your eyes to Maryland.

Colter Menke is the Aerospace Program Manager for the Maryland Department of Commerce. He bolsters the aerospace industry in Maryland by supporting the growth of in-state businesses and working to attract new business to the state. To connect with Colter to discuss your next aerospace project, email colter.menke@maryland.gov. Learn more about Maryland’s aerospace industry here.

1. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, 2023 American Community Survey ↩︎
2. BLS, OEWS, May 2023 ↩︎
3. US News, Best Engineering Schools, 2025 ↩︎
4. UpgradedPoints, 2025 ↩︎
5. Tax Foundation 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index ↩︎
6. C2ER, Cost of Living Index for US Metropolitan Areas, 2024 ↩︎
7. Moody’s, State Cost of Doing Business Index, 2024 Q4 ↩︎
8. federallabs.org, 2025 ↩︎
9. National Science Foundation, 2022 ↩︎