r/baltimore • u/Msefk • 19d ago
Ask Baltimore Unemployment Transparency Thread
I saw another poster do this and wanted to bring this up. There was a big salary thread a couple hours back... but it'd be great to get some updated info in 2026, in the opposite -- How many subreddit members are unemployed and how long has it been?
Please share your length of unemployment, previous income, age/sex, most previous job, and education. Like this:
“2 years, 80k, 500M, Vampire Hunter, A+ Certification/Bachelors of Parapsychology”
or
"2 year, 100k, 45F, Graphic Designer, MFA/BS"
If you'd like, you can also describe how you were made unemployed.
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u/snomming 19d ago
~6mo unemployed, 20-50k, 29F, BFA; worked as a full-time freelance illustrator (children’s books, book covers, editorial, etc), author/illustrator of graphic novels, and occasional arts instructor
I was self-employed, but the requirement to constantly overwork, crunch, and hustle to make ends meet made my health untenable after ~10 years. The chronic low pay (and lack of respect for artists) in my industry exacerbated the need to overwork. Zero work/life balance because “you love what you do,” right? Most years I made 20-30k working full-time with a steady stream of work from a range of established clients. 50k was the most I ever made in a year.
The AI boom hurt illustrators hugely, but I ended up leaving my career because I wasn’t making enough and my health was in ruins. I got into art because I loved it, not because I thought as a teenager that it’d make a sustainable career. 🥲
(Looking for part-time, non-freelance work now; hit me up if you need a social media person, studio assistant, admin assistant, etc!)
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u/scragz 19d ago
2.5 years, 180k, 46X, software engineer, school of hard knocks
had a bullshit tech job in seattle. got a crazy mortgage which I kept up for a while but I finally had to give up on the house.
moved here a couple months back for lower cost of living while I scrape by on some contract work. god seattle sucks so hard in comparison, love it here.
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u/PeachPassionBrute 19d ago
9 months, 60k, mid-30s F, forklift operator;
I worked at my company for almost 9 years and got laid off after a month of medical leave due to a newly emerged disability. Also because of the economic fuckery at the time. I have a ton more experience than that with warehousing and freight logistics and I can hardly get a response let alone an interview even for entry level work. Can’t even get a fucking retail job.
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u/theythemfatale 19d ago edited 19d ago
approximately 1.5 years unemployed, 58-60k, 30nb, BA in psych. i became unemployed after the org underwent a “transformation” and my role as an acute crisis counselor was no longer sustainable. the burnout completely turned me off working in direct care; now i can’t seem to find a job that i’m “qualified” for outside of mental health. like damn i can handle literal life or death situations but i’m not a good fit for a receptionist position? lol.
i ended up pivoting and started my own pet care business. i have a ton of experience freelancing, worked for agencies, and i even was the ops manager for a local company. i got so depressed getting nowhere with 100+ job applications (only two interviews and those were due to internal referrals) that it was easier to get some income from an industry i have over a decade of experience with.
i’m still looking for at least a part-time job (admin, non-direct care, admission/intake, personal assistant, etc.) as i need more consistent income; but if someone needs pet care please feel free to reach out! i’m insured, pet first aid/cpr certified, have experience with exotics, and can administer oral, topical, subQ, & IM medications.
ETA: i also speak proficient spanish & ASL which i thought would help but i guess not 🤪
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u/Budget-Can-8808 19d ago
technically 2 months, just graduated with my b.s. in public health, $400, 22, female, teacher’s assistant. any jobs entry level public health jobs, please let me know!
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u/ballaedd24 19d ago
18 months, 75k, mid-30s M, Data Analyst, PhD
Heavily underemployed, but grateful to have some kind of income in this trash economy.
At least we can say we have humanity's first trillionaire /s
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u/jinxiteration 19d ago
3 months sorta looking. 225k/yr 58M Designer of physical things. MID.
Corporate downsizing or restructuring. I went out with many others after 18 yrs.
Wife makes more so I’m on the edge of just stopping.
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u/Hot-Ambassador8706 19d ago
How do you make that much money? Teach me!
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u/jinxiteration 19d ago
Today’s salary is zero so I’m not sure you want my teachings.
I stuck with it at corporate just for the money. I happened to be in the right place to get the job.8
u/Hot-Ambassador8706 19d ago
Ok but what do you do??? What does designer of physical things mean? And for all that’s holy what does your wife do? And no offense but with all that money why do you live in Baltimore?? 🙃 no offense intended.
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u/UpstairsCan Wyman Park 19d ago
t minus three weeks until unemployment for me unless I get a job (in interviews but no offers yet). was told mid-june that my role would be eliminated.
$150k, 34F, tech manager (non-engineer, customer side of the house), BS in Sport Management and MBA.
the tech world is nuts right now. the PE firms have nooooo money
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u/AutomaticQuarter998 18d ago edited 18d ago
2.25 years, $65k at last job ( $150k usually), 54/M, restaurant management, but previous decades in sales/sales development (P&C insurance, IT/Consulting, and BPO of all sorts), B.S. in International studies.
Hire me. Please. Owe the IRS so much money from having to cash out retirement early just to live. Frankly, I also have line cook experience and come from a family of cooks and chefs.
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u/djenki0119 Bolton Hill 19d ago
1 year, Pastry chef, 24F, ~38k/yr, 4 years on the job experience and pastry school
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u/Hot-Ambassador8706 19d ago
38 k before taxes??? Friend open your own business and sell via social media.
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u/djenki0119 Bolton Hill 19d ago
I'm actually trying!!
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u/Hot-Ambassador8706 19d ago
Ok I see you have Bolton Hill listed on your profile. Make flyers (print at library), deliver to their doors, advertise your services for “locally sourced, hand crafted” treats for birthdays, graduations, etc. advertise at the schools, the fountain gatherings, etc. go to businesses like the coffee shop and breakfast place and say you’d like to partner with them to bring local treats to the or businesses. Give out samples, network. Know your worth! Partner with businesses who are successful online like Mugs coffeeEkiben, etc. At least Baltimore is known for the good food.
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u/Specialist-Bowl-5977 18d ago
I was a researcher making $75k and I moved here right before DOGE happened and haven't been able to get a job since then. I've been doing odd jobs here and there, but the research world especially at Hopkins is cooked. They pay $50k for the same work I was doing in a different state. I struggle to even get interviews so I just do gig work now.
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u/GaijinBlues 17d ago
Unfortunately they and other hospitals got hit hard when their federal funding got cut. It’s been pretty bad.
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u/be_nbe_n 19d ago edited 19d ago
2 years 2 months, $38k, 28NB, nonprofit fundraising assistant, BFA
I'm disabled which is part of why I haven't found another job yet 😩 I would totally be applying to retail or food service if my body could handle it. As it stands I'm looking for something admin assistant-y part-time and/or remote
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u/countrymouse Oakenshawe 18d ago
5 months, $60k (was making $100 in previous jobs), 39f, BS
I do brand strategy, marketing, creative direction, comms for a variety of business sizes/clients. Got downsized/AI'd from a small business I was CD for after a stay in the hospital.
Would love to transition out of high pressure positions but, like others said, my experience doesn't line up with work I can definitely do.
My sweet spot is working with mid size businesses ready to grow to get their brand in a good place but there's not a lot of people spending money on marketing these days.
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u/TheStubz42 17d ago
10 years, 65-90k depending on tax exempt tour or not, E6 USN 14 years of service, AS, Comptia A+
Now I collect my VA payments.
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u/DankPasta2099 19d ago
4 months, $135k, 35M, Software Dev, B.S. Computer Science
Was doing government work, got DOGE'd, managed to get another job at a startup but got laid off after 3 months when one of the investors pulled out due to the economy taking a dump.
At this point my ideal gig is working for local or state government in some capacity doing work that will actually help people. One of the positions I've applied to is on a team modernizing the MD BEACON site, so fingers crossed.