Are you considering exploring software engineering careers in Maryland, or looking to benchmark your current compensation?
We have conducted an extensive analysis of 790 software engineering positions across Maryland to provide a detailed overview of software engineer salaries and wages. This article explores how much software engineers make and the key factors that influence the Software Engineer Salary in Maryland, as revealed by our salary survey data.
Average Software Engineer Salary in Maryland
The median Maryland software engineer salary is $144,910 USD per year or $69.67 USD per hour. This figure provides insight into software engineer earnings in Maryland and serves as a benchmark for software engineering salaries in the state.
Salary Range Overview
Factors Influencing Software Engineer Salary
Educational Level
Here’s where it gets interesting: Software engineering positions in Maryland predominantly require a bachelor’s degree, with over 83% of positions listing this as the minimum requirement. But here’s the surprise – while a PhD commands the highest average salary at $162,000, the difference between education levels isn’t as dramatic as you might expect.
The data reveals something fascinating: those with just a high school diploma earn competitive salaries averaging $150,166.7, suggesting that in Maryland’s tech ecosystem, skills and experience can sometimes trump formal education credentials. This is particularly relevant given the current market’s shift toward adaptability and problem-solving skills, with experience increasingly winning in a more cautious hiring climate.
Years of Experience
The data shows a steady climb in compensation that tells an important story about career timing. Notice the significant jump between 3 and 4 years of experience – from $127,403 to $144,226, representing a 13% increase. This suggests that the transition from junior to mid-level developer represents a critical career milestone for software engineers in Maryland.
| Years of Experience | Percentage of Jobs | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 8.89% | 48 |
| 1 year | 5.00% | 27 |
| 2 years | 9.63% | 52 |
| 3 years | 17.41% | 94 |
| 4 years | 9.07% | 49 |
| 5 years | 15.00% | 81 |
| 6 years | 3.15% | 17 |
| 7 years | 19.44% | 105 |
| 8 years | 8.15% | 44 |
| 9 years | 0.93% | 5 |
| 10 years | 3.33% | 18 |
But what if you’re already at the median? The progression curve shows that patience and skill development pay off consistently, with 57% salary growth from year 1 to year 10. This aligns with industry trends showing that new graduates now account for just 7% of hires at Big Tech firms—down 25% from 2023, with experience increasingly winning in the current market.
Remote Work
| Work Arrangement | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Number of Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Onsite | $150817 | 584 |
| Hybrid | $141547 | 163 |
| Remote | $129036 | 43 |
Here’s a reality check that might surprise you: remote positions actually pay less on average in Maryland’s market. Onsite positions command a $21,780 premium over fully remote roles, which contradicts the national narrative about remote work premiums.
This pattern likely reflects Maryland’s unique position as a government contracting hub, where local talent includes those with experience at Maryland-based national security organizations like NSA, DISA and U.S. Cyber Command, with companies having access to 60 federal agencies in Maryland and neighboring D.C. and Virginia. Security clearances and proximity to government clients often require physical presence, driving up onsite compensation.
Seniority Level
The progression from entry-level to principal represents a 72% increase in compensation, highlighting the value of leadership capabilities and deep technical expertise in Maryland’s software engineering field. The jump from mid-level to lead ($13,361) is particularly notable, suggesting that moving into technical leadership roles offers substantial financial rewards beyond pure coding responsibilities.
Location
| City | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown | $210000 | $100.96 |
| Fort George G. Meade | $186808 | $89.82 |
| Suitland | $170017 | $81.74 |
| Annapolis Junction | $165908 | $79.76 |
| Annapolis | $162156 | $77.96 |
| Oxon Hill | $155000 | $74.52 |
| Laurel | $154438 | $74.25 |
| Fort Meade | $146308 | $70.34 |
| Aberdeen Proving Ground | $146250 | $70.31 |
| Fulton | $146144 | $70.26 |
| Columbia | $142740 | $68.63 |
| St Marys City | $142450 | $68.49 |
| Chevy Chase | $141689 | $68.12 |
| Cheltenham | $140833 | $67.71 |
| Hanover | $135648 | $65.22 |
Maryland has been called having “the largest concentration of cyber expertise and resources in the world” by industry leaders, and this concentration creates salary premiums in unexpected locations. Fort George G. Meade’s prominence reflects its role as NSA headquarters, located about 20 miles southwest of Baltimore and 25 miles northeast of Washington, D.C.
The clustering of high-paying positions around government installations creates micro-markets where specialised skills command premium compensation. Many companies, especially small to medium-sized businesses specializing in IT, security, and data management, find lucrative opportunities working with Fort Meade, often awarded contracts to provide specialised services from developing cybersecurity technologies to managing sensitive data storage.
It’s worth noting that while not explicitly listed, the average salary for mobile developer roles in these cities tends to align closely with software engineer salaries, often falling within the same range due to the overlap in required skills and demand.
Top Paying Companies in Maryland
Here’s where Maryland’s unique position in the cybersecurity and defense contracting ecosystem really shines through:
Highest Paying Employers
| Company | Average Annual Salary (USD) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| DarkStar Intelligence | $240,000 | $115.38 |
| Splunk | $237,950 | $114.40 |
| Next Phase Solutions and Services | $228,800 | $110.00 |
| DrangKro Aerospace | $215,000 | $103.37 |
| Technology Resource Experts | $206,250 | $99.16 |
| Akina | $203,857 | $98.01 |
| Erias Ventures | $202,500 | $97.36 |
| Bitwise | $201,875 | $97.06 |
| Intelliforce-IT Solutions Group | $201,111 | $96.69 |
| Captivation | $200,000 | $96.15 |
| Captivation Software | $200,000 | $96.15 |
| BAE Systems | $198,000 | $95.19 |
| Dedicated Tech Services | $187,200 | $90.00 |
| MAG Aerospace | $186,250 | $89.54 |
| Root Source | $182,500 | $87.74 |
The companies leading Maryland’s software engineering compensation aren’t household names like Google or Apple—they’re specialized defense contractors and cybersecurity firms. This reflects Maryland’s unique position in the national security ecosystem. Fort Meade’s advancements in cybersecurity trickle down to Maryland’s private tech industry, with local tech companies often collaborating with Fort Meade or employing veterans from the NSA and Cyber Command who bring valuable skills to the private sector, helping Maryland-based companies stay on the cutting edge.
These organizations span diverse industry sectors including cybersecurity, aerospace, and specialized technical services, indicating strong demand for software engineering expertise across multiple industries. The prevalence of defense contractors reflects Maryland’s specialized workforce and built-in customer base, with tech workers who aren’t just highly skilled but highly specialized, including those with experience at Maryland-based national security organizations.
It’s important to note that while not explicitly listed, DevOps engineer salary ranges in these companies often parallel those of software engineers, reflecting the growing importance of DevOps practices in modern software development.
How to Maximize Your Software Engineer Salary Potential
Based on our comprehensive salary survey data analysis and current industry trends, we recommend the following strategies to optimize your total compensation package in software engineering roles in Maryland:
Strategic Career Positioning
- Target High-Value Industries: Focus on cybersecurity, defense contracting, and aerospace companies that consistently offer above-market compensation
- Consider Security Clearance: Pursue opportunities that require security clearances, as these often command premium salaries in Maryland’s government-heavy market
- Look Beyond Traditional Tech: The highest-paying companies aren’t always the usual suspects—specialized contractors often outpay traditional tech giants
Geographic Optimization
- Consider Unexpected Locations: Cities like Hagerstown and Fort George G. Meade offer premium compensation packages that can exceed traditional tech hubs
- Evaluate Commute vs. Compensation Trade-offs: Onsite roles pay $21,780 more on average than remote positions—factor this into your total compensation calculations
Experience and Skill Development
- Focus on the 4-Year Mark: The most significant salary increase occurs between years 3-4, representing a critical career milestone
- Develop Leadership Capabilities: The jump from mid-level to lead roles offers substantial financial rewards beyond pure technical skills
- Specialize in High-Demand Areas: Focus on emerging technologies like automation, sustainable design, and cybersecurity as businesses increase their security budgets by 75% in 2025.
Find out which software engineering skills are most essential at in-demand software engineering skills required in 2025
Future Trends in Software Engineering Salaries
Maryland’s software engineering field continues to evolve, with increasing focus on several key areas that will likely drive premium salaries:
Cybersecurity Leadership
As around 75% of businesses increase their cybersecurity budget in 2025, software engineers must become more agile to handle cyber attacks, with innovations likely to arrive to stop malware, phishing, crypto-jacking, and other cyber attacks.
AI and Automation Integration
Despite predictions that “all code will be AI-generated in a year” from AI executives, and Google’s chief scientist predicting AI could perform at junior coder levels within a year, the reality is more nuanced. These statements often come from companies with AI products to sell, and current AI tools still require significant developer oversight to avoid costly errors.
Government Technology Modernization
With major investments in cybersecurity infrastructure, including NSA’s mission to protect national security networks and provide intelligence about cyber threats as part of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, Maryland will continue to see strong demand for engineers who can work on government modernization projects.
Sustainable Computing
Green software engineering is becoming essential as organizations build more compute-intensive workloads with AI while trying to meet sustainability targets, making these practices crucial for intelligent applications with GenAI.
Engineers who develop expertise in these emerging areas are likely to command premium salaries as Maryland industries compete for talent with specialized knowledge. The demand for software engineers continues growing, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 17% growth from 2023 to 2033, adding approximately 327,900 jobs.
The data presented in this article was compiled through an analysis of 790 software engineering positions across Maryland. Salaries, required education levels, experience expectations, seniority titles, and locations were extracted and analyzed to identify trends and calculate average salary for software engineers. This salary survey data provides the most up-to-date information on how much software engineers make in Maryland.
Conclusion
The software engineering profession offers strong earning potential across Maryland, with the median software engineer salary reaching $144,910 USD annually. This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of software engineering careers and the factors influencing software engineer earnings in the state.
We know job searching can be overwhelming, especially when considering the current market dynamics. But the salary survey data shows that while the tech market faces challenges, there are pockets of the industry seeing more demand than before, particularly in specialized areas.
Maryland’s position at the intersection of cybersecurity, government contracting, and emerging technologies positions it well for continued growth in software engineering opportunities. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance in your current role, understanding these salary trends and market dynamics can help you make informed decisions about your professional future in software engineering.
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