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  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. Senior QA Tester/
  4. Baltimore

Senior QA Tester.

Baltimore.

$99,000

median salary, 10% above the national average

$77,000 to $129,000. Last updated April 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

A Senior QA Tester in Baltimore earns a median of $99,000 in 2026. That is 10% above the national average. The range runs from $77,000 to $129,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$77,000

per year

Median

$99,000

per year

75th Percentile

$129,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$77,000$129,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $89,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$64,000

to $79,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$84,000

to $104,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$109,000

to $129,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$124,000

to $153,000

Salary trend

+6% YoY
$76,000
2022
$81,000
2023
$86,000
2024
$93,000
2025
$99,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $23,000 to the total package.

Base

$99,000

Equity

$13,000

Bonus

$8,000

Signing

$2,000

Estimated total: $122,000

How Baltimore compares

Baltimore, MD

$99,000

Cost of living: 8% above average

National Average

$90,000

Baltimore is $9,000 above

Senior QA Tester salary by city

Senior QA Tester salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$127,000$99,000 – $165,0001.38x$92,000
San Francisco, CA$123,000$95,000 – $160,0001.35x$91,000
New York, NY$119,000$92,000 – $154,0001.28x$93,000
Honolulu, HI$119,000$93,000 – $155,0001.30x$92,000
Boston, MA$113,000$88,000 – $147,0001.22x$93,000
Arlington, VA$112,000$87,000 – $146,0001.22x$92,000
Washington DC, DC$110,000$86,000 – $143,0001.25x$88,000
Boulder, CO$108,000$84,000 – $140,0001.15x$94,000
Los Angeles, CA$107,000$83,000 – $139,0001.18x$91,000
Baltimore, MD$99,000$77,000 – $129,0001.08x$92,000

See all 81 cities for Senior QA Tester →

Salary by role in Baltimore

Salary comparison by role in Baltimore
RoleMedianRange
Principal Quantitative Researcher$389,000$304,000 – $506,000
Technical Fellow$370,000$289,000 – $482,000
Principal AI Research Scientist$367,000$286,000 – $477,000
Senior QA Tester$99,000$77,000 – $129,000
Climate Risk Analyst$99,000$76,000 – $132,000
College Professor$99,000$74,000 – $137,000
Senior Instructional Designer$99,000$78,000 – $130,000
Financial Systems Analyst$99,000$77,000 – $129,000

What you should know

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. That is the backdrop for every Senior QA Tester offer you will see here.

One thing people overlook: taxes. 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. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.

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 Senior QA Testers in Baltimore runs from $77,000 to $129,000. 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

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your Senior QA Tester offer to see where you stand in Baltimore.

$

25th

$77,000

Median

$99,000

75th

$129,000

Considering a related role?

  • A Operations Manager in Baltimore earns $100,000 (1% more)
  • The highest-paying role in Baltimore is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $389,000

Common questions.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to a Senior QA Tester's base salary in Baltimore. Industry recognized credentials signal commitment and expertise to employers. In a market where the range spans $77,000 to $129,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the 50th and 75th percentile.

Baltimore's cost of living multiplier is 1.08x the national average. The adjusted median Senior QA Tester salary of $99,000 accounts for this. In practice, a Senior QA Tester earning $99,000 in Baltimore has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $91,667 in an average cost market.

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. For Senior QA Testers specifically, the median salary of $99,000 reflects that demand.

Baltimore's cost of living is near the national average. Baltimore's economy is anchored by Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, one of the largest employers in the state. Calculate your actual take home pay after housing, taxes, and transportation before deciding. A $99,000 salary here buys a different lifestyle than the same number in another market.

Entry level Senior QA Tester positions in Baltimore typically start near $77,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $99,000.

Senior QA Tester salary in other cities

Boston$113,000
Birmingham$74,000
Boise$82,000
Burlington$93,000
Baton Rouge$79,000
Boulder$108,000

Other salaries in Baltimore

MLOps Engineer$176,000
Multimodal AI Engineer$216,000
Medical Assistant$41,000
Mental Health Counselor$55,000

Related

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Senior QA Tester Salary in Baltimore, MD." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/senior-qa-tester/baltimore

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