introduction
Baltimore’s economy is diverse and growing. As a former stalwart of manufacturing and shipping, it’s still home to associated industries and hubs, including the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest roll-on/roll-off ports in the U.S.
But Maryland’s largest city is perhaps best known today for its vibrant higher education community, with 15 four-year colleges including esteemed Johns Hopkins University, as well as the fields that profit from a strong academic connection, such as healthcare, tech and cybersecurity. With its proximity to Washington, D.C. — Baltimore is just 39 miles northeast of the capital — the city also benefits from federal funding for government and defense contracting and research labs.
If you’re looking for a job in Baltimore right now, we’re here to help — we’ve compiled a list of the top 12 jobs and hottest industries where companies are hiring. And because Randstad research has found the city enjoys annual salaries 31.4 percent above the national average, the figures we’ve listed below are from the high end of our data. Read on to find your next great job in Charm City.
network administrator
The computer and mathematical field makes up 5.1 percent of Baltimore’s total employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), whereas the national average is only 3.4 percent. Network administrators have the added advantage within the field in that they can work for pretty much any major company or organization, from schools to hospitals, creating and managing online networks. The average annual salary for this position ranges from $92k to $108k.
QA engineer
Also part of the computer and mathematical field, QA engineers play a pivotal role in software development, testing programs and apps and identifying glitches throughout the project's lifespan. In Baltimore, these professionals will find plenty of demand for their work, as the city is home to a thriving startup scene anchored by the ETC (Emerging Technology Centers), a tech company business incubator founded in the late 1990s. There are also a number of healthcare-related tech companies, like PointClickCare and Scene Health. The salary for a QA engineer is $146k to $166k.
security analyst
The city has made a name for itself as a hub of cybersecurity research and training. The Greater Baltimore region is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Cyber Command and NSA at Fort George G. Meade, as well as the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Plus, there are nine Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (as certified by the NSA) in Greater Baltimore, and the state of Maryland ranks second for cyber job openings per capita, nationwide. All that is good news for security analysts, who can earn from $120k to $141k annually.
picker/packer
Baltimore’s location along the Mid-Atlantic region combined with the strength of the Port of Baltimore and nearby rail assets make it an ideal hub in the logistics industry. In 2018, it was also ranked as the fourth city nationwide for density of warehousing and storage workers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As a picker/packer, also known as a warehouse associate, you would join this booming industry and earn an average of $17 to $20 per hour in Baltimore.
forklift operator
Forklift operators are in demand nationwide — job postings targeting forklift operators ranked among the top 10 in 2023 in the manufacturing and logistics spaces. That’s true in Baltimore too, where forklift drivers can find work in the city’s numerous warehouse and logistics facilities. The average pay for this position in the city is $20 to $23 per hour.
procurement specialist
A career as a procurement specialist offers opportunities in several of Baltimore’s top industries, including tech, pharmacology and manufacturing. As a procurement specialist, you would handle every step of acquiring goods, properties and even services from other businesses, and could expect a salary of $48k to $53k.
systems analyst
A systems analyst works at the intersection of two fields — business and information technology (IT), both of which are top industries in the city. The role involves advising clients on the software they need for their business activities, as well as being the go-to person for solving complex problems and linking different computers or systems together. As for pay, the average salary in Baltimore is $107k, according to the BLS.
surgical tech
Six of the 10 major private employers in Baltimore are in the healthcare industry, according to 2021-2022 data from the Maryland Department of Commerce. That includes major healthcare systems like top-ranked Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, LifeBridge Health and MedStar Health, who employ more than 40,000 people in the Greater Baltimore region. As a surgical tech, you could be a part of this important field and earn a salary of $55k to $64k.
office manager
Education and library and office support make up a combined 18.6 percent of the city’s total employment, according to BLS data. That’s no surprise, given the city’s numerous two- and four-year colleges, which employ office managers across academic and administrative departments. If you’re interested in working an office manager job in Baltimore, the average annual salary is $69k to $81k.
clinical research associate
Greater Baltimore has a busy life sciences sector, between federal laboratories and R&D funding (Maryland receives more federal R&D dollars per worker than any other state), top life sciences universities and large life sciences companies like Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD). Clinical research associates can expect diverse job offerings in the city, and an annual salary of $103k to $136k.
financial analyst
According to the BLS, Baltimore’s business and financial operations make up a sizable 7.9 percent of the region’s total employment, well over the national average of 6.5 percent. As a financial analyst in this sector, you would advise your company on real estate, purchases and investments, and could work for one of the city’s more than 8,300 financial services firms. The salary ranges from $108k to $131k.
law clerk
More than 13,000 residents are employed in the legal field in Baltimore, and BLS data shows the city has more than three times the concentration of legal support workers compared to the national average. As a law clerk in Baltimore, expect an average salary of $73k.
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