Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Baltimore, MD
Based on 289 certified H-1B filings in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Owings Mills, Ellicott City, Cockeysville, Hanover, Columbia.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $104,666 |
| 25th | $111,779 |
| 50th (median) | $128,419 |
| 75th | $151,931 |
| 90th | $160,737 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $102,000 | $96,866 | $122,283 | 270 |
| FY2021 | $107,557 | $92,498 | $125,000 | 274 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $98,426 | $130,333 | 323 |
| FY2023 | $116,864 | $96,637 | $130,416 | 206 |
| FY2024 | $122,283 | $100,984 | $143,562 | 239 |
| FY2025 | $128,419 | $111,779 | $147,289 | 164 |
| FY2026 | $128,419 | $104,666 | $152,194 | 125 |
Cost of living
Baltimore's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $128,419 is worth about $122,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Baltimore = 104.5).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Baltimore, MD area earned a median of $135,600 in May 2025 (9,010 employed). The H-1B median here is $128,419, 5% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $128,419 | 102 |
| Infosys | $104,666 | 21 |
| HCLTech | $111,779 | 10 |
| Allegis Group | too few | 9 |
| T. Rowe Price Associates | too few | 7 |
| Pace Computer Solutions | too few | 5 |
| Softrams | too few | 5 |
| Sparksoft | too few | 5 |
| TEKsystems Global Services | too few | 5 |
| Global Alliant | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $88,000 | 17 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $111,779 | 114 |
| Senior · Level III | $135,782 | 95 |
| Expert · Level IV | $159,786 | 57 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $87,776 | $88,000 | 17 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $111,779 | $111,779 | 114 |
| Senior · Level III | $128,419 | $135,782 | 95 |
| Expert · Level IV | $152,194 | $159,786 | 57 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.