AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist.
Baltimore.
$219,000
median salary, 12% above the national average
$163,000 to $286,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Baltimore is 8% more expensive than the national average. For AI Security & Red Teaming Specialists, that shakes out to a median of $219,000, with the full range spanning $163,000 to $286,000. Expertise in adversarial testing of AI systems including prompt injection, jailbreaking, data poisoning, and model extraction drives top pay. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $197,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$142,000
to $175,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$186,000
to $230,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$241,000
to $285,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$274,000
to $339,000
Salary trend
+10% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $104,000 to the total package.
Base
$219,000
Equity
$64,000
Bonus
$27,000
Signing
$13,000
Estimated total: $323,000
How Baltimore compares
Baltimore, MD
$219,000
Cost of living: 8% above average
National Average
$195,000
Baltimore is $24,000 above
AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist salary by city
Salary by role in Baltimore
What you should know
Here is what the AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist market actually looks like in Baltimore. Baltimore's economy is anchored by Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, one of the largest employers in the state. The city has strong cybersecurity, defense, and biotech sectors, benefiting from proximity to NSA, Fort Meade, and NIH. The port of Baltimore also drives significant logistics and trade employment. Expertise in adversarial testing of AI systems including prompt injection, jailbreaking, data poisoning, and model extraction drives top pay. Specialists who can identify novel attack vectors and build automated red teaming frameworks are rare. Government security clearances and experience with defense or intelligence sector AI systems add substantial compensation premiums.
Junior AI security testers start at $120,000 to $150,000. Mid level red team specialists earn $170,000 to $215,000. Senior specialists reach $215,000 to $275,000. Heads of AI security at frontier labs or defense contractors can exceed $380,000 in total compensation. In Baltimore, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 15 to 30% are standard at AI labs and security firms. Equity grants add 20 to 35% of total compensation. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $70,000 are common. Benefits frequently include security conference attendance, bug bounty participation, and research publication support. And on the tax side: maryland's top income tax rate is 5.75%, and Baltimore City adds a local income tax of 3.2%. The combined burden is among the higher ones, but federal and defense salaries compensate. When someone quotes you $219,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: A security clearance is extremely valuable in the Baltimore corridor. Cleared professionals earn 20 to 30% more, and the NSA and defense contractor presence drives constant demand. The range for AI Security & Red Teaming Specialists in Baltimore runs from $163,000 to $286,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A AI Financial Engineer in Baltimore earns $218,000 (0% more)
- The highest-paying role in Baltimore is Chief AI Officer at $345,000
Common questions.
AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist salary in other cities
Other salaries in Baltimore
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.