Lead HRIS Analyst.
Baltimore.
$118,000
median salary, 12% above the national average
$92,000 to $154,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
A Lead HRIS Analyst in Baltimore earns a median of $118,000 in 2026. That is 12% above the national average. The range runs from $92,000 to $154,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Lead HRIS Analyst compensation is driven by domain specialization, SQL and statistical depth, and the financial or operational impact of insights delivered.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $106,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$77,000
to $94,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$100,000
to $124,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$130,000
to $153,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$148,000
to $183,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $31,000 to the total package.
Base
$118,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $149,000
How Baltimore compares
Baltimore, MD
$118,000
Cost of living: 8% above average
National Average
$105,000
Baltimore is $13,000 above
Lead HRIS Analyst salary by city
Salary by role in Baltimore
What you should know
Here is what the Lead HRIS Analyst 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. Lead HRIS Analyst compensation is driven by domain specialization, SQL and statistical depth, and the financial or operational impact of insights delivered. Base salary carries most of the total compensation, with bonuses adding roughly 8% in a typical year. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
Lead HRIS Analysts progress Analyst → Senior Analyst → Manager → Senior Manager → Director over 10 to 12 years, with many transitioning into strategy, product, or operations leadership. MBA is a common accelerator around year 4 to 6. For Lead HRIS Analysts specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope. 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. Total compensation for Lead HRIS Analysts runs roughly $113K at median when factoring base + typical bonus (~8% of base). Base salary carries most of the compensation; benefits (healthcare, 401(k) match, PTO) add an estimated 15–25% in imputed value on top. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance). 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 $118,000, 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 Lead HRIS Analysts in Baltimore runs from $92,000 to $154,000. 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 Contracts Manager in Baltimore earns $117,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Baltimore is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $389,000
Common questions.
Lead HRIS Analyst salary in other cities
Other salaries in Baltimore
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Lead HRIS Analysts in Baltimore.
Related tools
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.
Related tools