There are a lot of things that make Marylanders proud. It's the state flag (which is pretty awesome compared to the other states), crabs and their high school affiliation to name a few. But the 'Baltimore accent' also falls on this list. People are very proud of their accents and they let it fly. Why not? You should always be proud of where you're from.
However, it seems as though that accent may be hitting you in your wallet.
According to a new study, people with strong regional accents get paid 20% less than those with a 'standard accent.' The study surveyed 3,000 job applicants and found that nearly 40% of them say they 'soften' their regional accents in their job interviews out of fear of negative stereotypes. That percentage was even higher among applicants with a Baltimore accent.
The average salary in Maryland sits around $48,000 a year. If you're losing 20% because of your accent, that means you're losing about $9k a year! Maybe it's time to drop the 'hon' from your vocabulary.