Astronomer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 14 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge.
Median salary$97,257
Middle 50%$77.1k–$106.2k
vs. national median+16%comparison median $83,496
Filings14FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $72,000 |
| 25th | $77,125 |
| 50th (median) | $97,257 |
| 75th | $106,227 |
| 90th | $119,249 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $81,000 | $71,930 | $94,183 | 11 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2022 | $73,230 | $69,225 | $82,875 | 12 |
| FY2023 | $72,100 | $72,000 | $80,328 | 10 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 5 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Astronomer salary of $97,257 is worth about $89,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | too few | 6 |
| Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory | too few | 6 |
| Harvard University | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $93,000 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $63,565 | $93,000 | 11 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.