Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Baltimore, MD

Based on 26 certified H-1B filings in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Pikesville, Ellicott City, Annapolis, Columbia, Fulton.

Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher

Median salary$131,107
Middle 50%$103.3k–$168k
vs. national median−29%comparison median $185,536
Filings26FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $70,250 and $218,302.
PercentileSalary
10th$90,153
25th$103,342
50th (median)$131,107
75th$167,995
90th$200,000

Salary by year

Median salary

$100k $125k $150k FY2020: median $125,000 (12 filings) FY2021: median $113,901 (12 filings) FY2022: median $133,910 (11 filings) FY2023: median $139,037 (10 filings) FY2025: median $125,000 (16 filings) FY2026: median $137,607 (10 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 12 filings FY20 FY2021: 12 filings FY21 FY2022: 11 filings FY22 FY2023: 10 filings FY23 FY2024: 9 filings FY24 FY2025: 16 filings FY25 FY2026: 10 filings FY26 16
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$125,000$96,250$146,79612
FY2021$113,901$102,378$135,20512
FY2022$133,910$107,268$145,00011
FY2023$139,037$105,000$152,70010
FY2024–––9
FY2025$125,000$102,486$173,87716
FY2026$137,607$116,250$163,48610

Cost of living

Baltimore's median Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $131,107 is worth about $125,500 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Baltimore = 104.5).

Compared with all workers here

All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Baltimore, MD area earned a median of $156,750 in May 2025 (1,070 employed). The H-1B median here is $131,107, 16% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Johns Hopkins Universitytoo few7
Harbor Expertstoo few3
Harbor Labstoo few2
NVIDIAtoo few2
University of Maryland, Baltimore Countytoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $101,657 12
Mid-level · Level II too few 4
Senior · Level III – 0
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$68,078$101,65712

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.